HC Deb 13 April 1999 vol 329 cc138-9W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin, at 1 March, of (a) her private office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) her Policy Unit and (d) staff in total. [78503]

Marjorie Mowlam

The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a) Under the terms of the Civil Service Ethnic Monitoring Code of Practice it would be inappropriate to provide the information in the form requested because of the very small numbers involved.
  2. (b) I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 39.
  3. (c) I do not have a policy unit.
  4. (d) My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office will provide this information centrally.