Equal Opportunities (Hansard, 31 March 1993)

§ Mr. Janner
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at his Department.

§ Mr. Curry
Recruits to the senior grades as to any grade in the civil service are selected on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, unless one of the exceptions permitted under Civil Service Order in Council 1991 applies. Various steps have been taken by the civil service commissioners to aid recruitment from all sectors of the community including:

(a) extending links with institutions of higher education;

(b) equal opportunities training for those involved in selection;

and

(c) using validated selection procedures.

§ Mr. Janner
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department last conducted surveys of(a)ethnic origins and (b)the number of women among its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Curry
The Department completed its survey of the ethnic origin of staff in 1987 and keeps this up to date with information on new staff and leavers. Some 96 per cent. of staff have volunteered information on their ethnic origin. The Department's personnel records include details of the number of men and women and there is, therefore, no need to undertake particular surveys on the number of women employed. The Department is fully committed to the programmes for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for people of ethnic minority origin and women.
245W

§ Mr. Janner
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are(a)women, (b)from ethnic minorities and (c)disabled people.

Grade equivalent Women From Ethnic Minorities Registered Disabled People

Number Per cent, of total staff Number of respondents to question-naire Per cent, to-tal of all res-pondents to questionnaire Number Per cent, of total staff

1 — — — — — —

2 1 14.3 — — 1 14.3

3 1 4.2 — — — —

4 — — — — — —

5 9 7.8 1 0.9 1 0.9

6 13 7.9 1 0.6 1 0.6

7 134 14.5 13 1.5 2 0.2

All staff 4,519 46.1 416 4.4 138.5 1.4

Grade equivalent	Women	From Ethnic Minorities	Registered Disabled People
	Number	Per cent, of total staff	Number of respondents to question-naire	Per cent, to-tal of all res-pondents to questionnaire	Number	Per cent, of total staff
1	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	1	14.3	—	—	1	14.3
3	1	4.2	—	—	—	—
4	—	—	—	—	—	—
5	9	7.8	1	0.9	1	0.9
6	13	7.9	1	0.6	1	0.6
7	134	14.5	13	1.5	2	0.2
All staff	4,519	46.1	416	4.4	138.5	1.4