§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made towards equality of opportunity in the Civil Service. [69526]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamI am publishing today a statistical report on equal opportunities in the Civil Service: "Equal Opportunities in the Civil Service Data Summary 1998". Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House and will be made available on the internet.
The report shows a continuing improvement in the proportion of people from those groups which are currently under-represented in most Civil Service management grades: women, ethnic minority staff and staff with disabilities. For example, the proportion of women at Higher Executive Officer level and above has risen to 26% in 1998 from 11% in 1984. In the Senior Civil Service, women now represent 18% of staff. The representation of ethnic minority staff at the first management level (Executive Officer) has increased to 5.1% from 2.9% in 1989. The overall proportion of staff with disabilities has increased to 4% from 3.8% in 1997.
Progress has been made but much remains to be done before the Service, at all levels, reflects society.
Later today, Sir Richard Wilson, the Head of the Home Civil Service and I plan to launch a Charter for action to redress the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service agreed with the Civil Service trades unions. The Charter has been endorsed by all Civil Service Heads of Department.
I am personally committed to a fair Civil Service in which diversity and equality of opportunity are valued. I aim to ensure that equal opportunities issues generally receive a high profile.