§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that hospital trusts send out ethnic monitoring questionnaires with application forms. [4041]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department of Health recommends ethnic monitoring of job applicants as good personnel practice in "Ethnic minority staff in the NHS: a programme of action" and in guidance to the NHS on medical appointments. Chairs and Chief Executives of NHS trusts and health authorities are accountable for meeting equal opportunities objectives locally. Postgraduate deans conduct ethnic monitoring of specialist registrar appointments.
The NHS Executive is working with NHS employers, professional bodies and Royal Colleges, education consortia, trade unions, Deans and others to tackle discrimination and encourage adoption of best practice.