§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Department are members of ethnic minorities.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 15 May 1992]: At 1 April 1992 the total number of staff employed in the Scottish Office and associated Departments who have described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority was 27, or 0.4 per cent. Of that number, one grade 7 is so described, or 0.2 per cent.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 15 May 1992]: My Department conducted a voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of staff in 1987, a reminder exercise in 1989, and thereafter all new entrants have been invited to complete questionnaires. I have no plan to conduct a further survey.
We achieved an 87 per cent. response rate from the exercise, and 0.4 per cent. of staff have described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority. The economically active ethnic minority population in the Lothian area is 0.6 per cent.