HC Deb 09 March 1998 vol 308 cc14-5W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of civil servants in his Department, at each grade, who received their schooling in the independent school sector. [33081]

Mr. Straw

This information is not collected or recorded centrally in the Home Office and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number and percentage of civil servants in his Department, at each grade including and above higher executive officer who(a) attended university and (b) attended either Oxford or Cambridge University. [33080]

Mr. Straw

Figures for the non-Prison Service Home Office are given in the table. The information requested could be provided for the Prison Service only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate for each of the last five years, the number and percentage of new civil servants in his Department who attended Oxford or Cambridge University, broken down into the number of entrants joining the Department from(a) the regular Civil Service entrance procedure, (b) the fast stream and (c) the private sector. [33082]

Mr. Straw

The available information for the non-Prison Service Home Office is given in the table. The information requested could be provided for the Prison Service only at disproportionate cost.

Information on the nature of recruits' previous employment is not recorded centrally in the Home Office and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since all recruitment into the Home Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code, information about recruits who were previously employed in the private sector will be included within the figures given.

Year1/Mode of Entry Number who attended Oxford or Cambridge University Percentage who attended Oxford or Cambridge University
1998
(a) Regular2 2 1.5
(b) Fast Stream3,4 0 0
1997
(a) Regular2 5 1.4
(b) Fast Stream3 4 40
1996
(a) Regular2 12 0.8
(b) Fast Stream3 4 40
1995
(a) Regular2 11 0.9
(b) Fast Stream3 5 50
1994
(a) Regular2 8 1.1
(b) Fast Stream3 10 62.5
1 Years shown are calendar years. Thus 1998 covers 01/01/98–06/03/98
2Individuals who did not join the Home Office as, nor have since become, fast stream staff.
3Individuals who did join the Home Office as, or have since become, fast stream staff.
4The majority of fast stream recruitment will take place later in the calendar year.