§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is registered as disabled; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people in his Department. [102048]
§ Mr. StrawThe percentage of permanent staff in the Home Office, including the Prison Service, recorded as having a disability on 1 April 1999 was 0.6 per cent. More detailed figures are given in the table. Staff with disabilities in the main Home Office are no longer recorded as being "registered" or "unregistered". Information on staff with disabilities is gathered on a474W voluntary basis. The data include those who have indicated that they have a disability as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
As part of our commitment to the employment of people with disabilities, we use the Employment Service's "Two Ticks" Disability Symbol for external recruitment and for internal selection and promotion boards. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme which guarantees an interview to anyone with a disability as long as they meet the minimum criteria for the post. The recruitment brochure for the Home Office includes details of the scheme. An audio version of this brochure is in preparation for applicants with sight difficulties.
The Home Office is signed up to New Deal. The Government aim to ensure that the particular needs of young people with disabilities who are claiming Job Seekers Allowance are met within the New Deal so that they are able to benefit fully from the opportunities it offers. We have been able on some occasions to offer placements to graduates with disabilities under the `Workable' scheme. We also provide a disability assessment service for staff to establish what reasonable adjustments can be made by, for example special aids or facilities, to help them participate fully in the work of the Department.
We also take part in the Cabinet Office bursary scheme for staff with disabilities. Under this scheme, we award departmental bursaries, supported by mentoring, to those who are judged to have the potential to reach the feeder grade to the Senior Civil Service.
Area of employment1 Percentage of staff employed who are record as having a disability2 Home Office (core areas) 1.8 Immigration and Nationality Department 4.1 HM Prison Service 0.1 Fire Service College 0.7 Forensic Science Service 0.6 United Kingdom Passport Agency 2.5 Home Office average excluding prison service 2.6 Home Office average including prison service 0.6 1Information given is for 1 April 1999 2Percentage is of permanent non-industrial staff