§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of his Department's policies on women. [5480]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office has had in place guidelines on policy appraisal for equal opportunities since 1992. We are currently updating these guidelines in the light of the guidance published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in July this year.
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All permanent staff in post in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Department Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Scottish Office Core 5,012 271 4,779 288 4,691 289 4,054 292 3,653 283 Historic Scotland 619 23 631 22 622 28 605 37 558 27 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 215 1 226 1 246 8 235 6 236 7 Scottish Agricultural Science Agency 135 7 137 10 132 12 136 11 125 15 Scottish Office Pensions Agency — — 161 7 171 9 156 10 164 11 Student Awards Agency for Scotland — — — — — — 133 4 121 4 Scottish Office Total (Excl SPS) 5,981 302 5,934 328 5,862 346 5,319 360 4,857 347 Scottish Prison Service — — 4,596 58 4,464 141 4,166 139 4,381 158 This guidance requires officials to identify policy issues which might impact differentially on women and men, and other groups, to assess whether this is justified in policy terms, and to adjust the policy if it is not.