§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals she has to increase the number of ethnic minority employees in her Department. [739]
§ Mr. FieldThe Department supports the Cabinet Office Programme for Action on Race and is fully committed to developing a culturally diverse workforce. Its recruitment procedures are designed to encourage people from ethnic backgrounds to be successful in job applications. Recruitment is by fair and open competition and selection is based on merit. Advertisements are placed in the ethnic minority press and with Local Racial Equality Councils and we also undertake outreach projects. Recruitment exercises are monitored to ensure equal treatment for all applicants and to ensure that those involved in the monitoring process have all received equal opportunities awareness training.
In addition the Department sponsors 20 Windsor fellows a year, which is an opportunity for ethnic minority undergraduates to undertake work placements within the DSS.