§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will specify the equivalent qualifications to O-Levels for employment as a civil service casual administrative assistant; and what assessment he has made as to whether those qualifications are such as not to constitute a prima facie case of discrimination against women who have brought up children. [1411]
§ Sir John WheelerThe following qualifications are accepted as equivalent to the normal eligibility requirement of at least two grade C passes in GCSE-GCE O-Level including English language for the purposes of employment as a casual administrative assistance in the Northern Ireland civil service:
- BEC Higher National Diploma
- BEC Higher National Certificate
- BEC National Diploma
- BEC National Certificate
- BEC General Diploma
- BEC General Certificate
- BEC Certificate in Office Studies
- TEC Higher Diploma
493 - TEC Higher Certificate
- Btec Higher National Diploma
- Btec Higher National Certificate
- Btec National Diploma
- Btec National Certificate
- Btec General Diploma
- Btec General Certificate
- Btec 1st Awards
- RSA Certificate/Diploma in Office Procedures
- RSA Certificate Office Practice Level II
- RSA Certificate Office Studies
- RSA Business Administration
- NCVQ Level I and II Business Administration
- SNVQ Level I and II Business Administration
- City and Guilds Technician Certificate.
Other formal qualifications equivalent to a grade C pass in individual subject areas are also acceptable. Formal qualifications not on the above list are considered on a case-by-case basis. It is not evident how the use of such an extensive range of qualifications would constitute a prima facie case of discrimination against women who have brought up children.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for satisfactory previous employment as a casual administrative assistant in the civil service to be added to the list of qualifications equivalent to O-levels for future such employment as a casual. [1412]
§ Sir John WheelerNo. This concession would only benefit persons erroneously admitted to the civil service without valid educational qualifications in the past and would be unfair to others correctly refused entry by reason of lack of such qualifications.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed as casuals within the Northern Ireland civil service; what is the number of such casuals who are currently in receipt of a civil service pension; and what is the average annual present amount of such pensions and the various grounds on which these individuals with such pensions retired. [1410]
§ Sir John WheelerThe total number of casual staff employed in the Northern Ireland Office and the six Northern Ireland Departments is 1,420
Information on the number of casuals in the Department of Health and Social Services who are in receipt of a civil service pension could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In the Northern Ireland Office and the remaining five Northern Ireland Departments there are two casuals in receipt of a civil service pension; the average amount is £5,311. Both officers retired on age grounds.