HC Deb 05 December 1994 vol 251 cc102-5W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years for, and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objectives of, the programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people.

Mr. Ian Taylor

The needs of staff with disabilities are taken fully into account in designing personnel and other policies affecting staff generally. It is therefore difficult to separate out budgetary and staffing figures in the way requested.

However, the DTI has an annual budget of currently £18,000 for 1994–95 to help fund the cost of specialist non-IT equipment for disabled staff in HQ division and Government offices. The Department also meets the cost of other needs where appropriate—for example, specialist IT equipment, adaptions to buildings. The Accounts Services Agency, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory fund these costs for their staff. This is in addition to financial assistance available to disabled staff from the Department of Employment's access to work scheme.

The number of staff allocated to achieve the objective of the programme of action cannot be fully estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunities staff but of other specialists—for example, recruiters-trainers and individual line managers—throughout the organisation. However, the equivalent of 3.9 full-time staff are currently employed directly on equal opportunities work, including disability issues.

The chief executives of Companies House, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

Mr. Ian Taylor

Historical data on the number of disabled staff employed by the Department, including its executive agencies, were published in the magazine "Independent" on Friday 18 March 1994. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

The Department—including Accounts Services Agency, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory—employs 253 disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability. This represents 3.1 per cent. of total staff.

Although the Department does not produce projections for its future employment of disabled people, it is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all, whether employees or job applicants.

The chief executives of Companies House, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from David Durham to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994: You recently tabled two Parliamentary Questions for priority written answer, and I have been asked to respond direct to you as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency. PQ 32N: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years; and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme of Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for Disabled People

Estimate x 5 years
years 1–2 per cent. years 2–5 per cent.
1—Grade 7 5 2.5
1—HEO 10 15.0
1—HEO 20 10.0

There is no separate budget but elements are incorporated into other section budgets. PQ 33N: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years. The record of disabled employees at Companies House for the past five years is not available. The employment of registered and non-registered staff with disabilities as at October 1994 is 2.7 per cent. (actuals 29). Projected figures are not available, but Companies House is committed to improving on present figures and will strive to meet any new targets set by Government. The Agency will continue to ensure that all applicants with disabilities are given equal opportunities to apply and compete for employment.

Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS In response to your two questions to Departments, the records for this Agency shows:-

  1. (i) Three disabled people are currently employed here, 1.2 per cent. of the total staff.
  2. (ii) On the subject of Equal Opportunity, the Agency is committed to the programmes of its parent Department, the DTI. Agency Personnel staff have responsibilities as Equal Opportunities Officers. One Higher Executive Officers spends about 5 per cent. of her time on such matters, supervised by a Gd. 7.

Letter from Dr. Peter Clapham to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994: I am writing in response to your questions to the President of the Board of Trade regarding (i) the number and percentage of disabled people employed by DTI and its Agencies over the past five years: and the projected figures for the next five years, and (ii) the budget allocated by DTI and its Agencies over the next five years: and the number of staff or staff hours equivalent that have been allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for the Disabled People.

  1. (i) The National Physical Laboratory currently employs 33 disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability. This represents 4.7 per cent. of the Laboratory's total staff.
NPL has only recently taken on delegated responsibility for equal opportunities, including disability issues, and it is not possible to break down previous years' figures on an Agency basis. I understand that DTI centrally will be providing details of the overall Departmental position for 1990–1993. Whilst the Laboratory does not produce projections for its future employment of those with a disability it is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all, whether employees or job applicants.
  1. (ii) The needs of disabled staff are taken fully into account in designing personnel and other policies affecting staff generally. It is, therefore, difficult to separate out budgetary and staffing figures in the way requested.

Expenditure in support of the Programme for Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for Disabled People includes cost elements associated with, for example, training, special equipment, and modification of buildings and accommodation and cannot be disaggregated. This is in addition to financial assistance available to disabled staff from the Department of Employment's "Access to Work" scheme. The number of staff or staff hours equivalent to be allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action cannot be estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunities officers but also of other human resource specialists, recruitment and training officers and individual line managers throughout the Laboratory. I hope the above provides the information you require.

Letter from P.R.S. Hartnack to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS NUMBERS 32N AND 33N I refer to the above questions which the President of the Board of Trade has passed to me in order to answer on behalf of the Patent Office, an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. DTI has already provided a reply in respect of historical data on disabled staff but I can add that 28 members of Patent Office staff, representing 3.05 per cent. of the total, have chosen to declare their disability. Projected figures are unavailable but the Agency is committed to achieving equal opportunity for all, whether employees or applicants. The Patent Office does not have a separate budget specifically for the Programme of Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity for Disabled People and as any expenditure in support of it includes cost elements associated with training, accommodation, special equipment, modification of buildings etc it cannot be disaggregated. Likewise the number of staff or staff hours equivalent allocated to achieve the Programme's objectives cannot be estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment of not only equal opportunities staff but also of line managers and other specialist staff. 15 per cent. of the equivalent of a full time member of staff is, however, devoted to equal opportunities issues within this Agency.

Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE I am replying on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your two written questions to the President of the Board of Trade about the employment of disabled people. To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years. Of the 544 staff currently employed in the Agency there are 17 registered and non-registered disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability. This represents 3.1 per cent. of total staff. The Agency only received responsibility from the Department of Trade and Industry for equal opportunity matters on 1 October and we do not therefore have any historical information of our own. I understand that DTI will provide you with figures on the past overall position of disabled staff in DTI for 1990–93. We have not made any projections about the number of disabled staff which the Agency will employ over the next five years, however, the Agency is committed to achieving equality of opportunity in employment for all. To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated Agencies for each of the next five years; and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for Disabled People. You also asked about the budget for disabled staff, although we have not allocated a specific budget we do our best to meet any specialist needs for example equipment, building adaption. This is in addition to financial assistance available to disabled staff from the Department of Employment "Access to Work" scheme. The number of staff or staff hours equivalent allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action cannot be estimated since implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunity staff but also of other personnel and training staff and individual managers throughout the organisation. However, two staff in the Personnel Section work on equal opportunity matters for part of their time. They are charged with taking forward action in the Agency on all equal opportunities matters including those which affect disabled people.