§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (1) how many personnel are currently employed by GCHQ; and how many of these are women;
(2) what steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of the Secret Intelligence Service;
(3) what percentage of women is employed in each grade of post within GCHQ;
(4) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of the Secret Intelligence Service;
(5) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the ranks of the Secret Intelligence Service;
(6) what percentage of women is employed in each grade of post within the Secret Intelligence Service;
(7) what steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of Government Communications Headquarters;
(8) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the ranks of GCHQ;
(9) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of GCHQ;
(10) how many personnel are currently employed by the Secrety Intelligence Service; and how many of these are women.
§ Mr. HurdGCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service employ about 6,100 and 2,000 people respectively. I am1386W not prepared to give a more specific breakdown of the employment structure of the intelligence agencies.
Both GCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service operate an equal opportunities policy. Recruitment and promotion are based on merit, not gender.