§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of public appointments made by his Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if he will list their names.
§ Mr. BoswellThe information given is based on the total number of public appointments made by the Department by the end of 1993 and includes information on ethnic minority appointments available at that time.
Department for Education Public appointments December 1993 Number Per cent. Total number of public appointments held in 1993 248 Total number of appointments held by ethnic minority members in 1993 9 3.6 Asian 4 1.6 Black 5 2.0
Name Ethnic group School Curriculum and Assessment Authority Mrs. Shahwar Sadeque Asian Royal Ballet School Governing Body Mr. Bruce Gill Black Further Education Funding Council—Regional Committees GREATER LONDON Mr. Abdul Bhanji Asian Mr. John Taylor Black YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE Mr. David Nerurkar JP Asian NORTH WEST Mr. Wally Brown Black WEST MIDANDS Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya Asian National Youth Agency Ms Althea Efunshile Black Ms Theo Sowa Black
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;
(2) what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.
§ Mr. BoswellThe information we hold on individuals appointed or being considered for appointment to public516W bodies for which we have responsibility is limited to whatever personal information they volunteer as well as details we solicit relating to their professional background. This is because appointments are made or approved solely on the basis of aptitude, merit and suitability for the job.
We do not keep a record of the political affiliation of appointees or potential candidates. To add to the information already obtained, Ministers normally interview candidates before making or approving appointments. We are satisfied that these procedures are sufficient to avoid the possibility of unsuitable appointments.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment;
(2) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.
§ Mr. BoswellThere is no statutory requirement placed on the Secretary of State to consult or inform organisations or individuals prior to making or approving appointments to paid or unpaid posts. The constitutions, articles and trust deeds of some public bodies do place a requirement on Ministers to consult with interests which they consider relevant; these bodies include the Further Education Unit Management Board, the Further Education Staff college and the National Youth Agency.