HL Deb 03 December 2001 vol 629 cc94-5WA
Lord Ouseley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the most up-to-date numbers and percentages of full-time senior civil servants by gender, disability, age-bands, race and ethnicity; and what progress they have made towards achieving equality targets set across different departments of state. [HL1043]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

Civil Service diversity figures for April 2001 were published by press notice on 8 November 2001. These show that:

2.4 per cent of staff at Senior Civil Service level are from a minority ethnic background, up from 1.6 per cent in April 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 3.2 per cent.

2.0 per cent of staff at Senior Civil Service level are disabled, up from 1.5 per cent in April 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 3.0 per cent.

In addition, Cabinet Office figures show that the proportion of women in the Senior Civil Service is increasing:

24.2 per cent of the Senior Civil Service are women, up from 17.8 per cent in April 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 35 per cent.

20.2 per cent of those in the very top posts are women, up from 12.7 per cent in April 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 25 per cent.

A separate press notice on Civil Service staffing figures was published on the same day and includes data on specific departments. I shall arrange for a copy of both press notices to be sent to the noble Lord.

Sir Richard Wilson's annual report to the Prime Minister on progress on diversity in 2000–01 highlighted a range of action taking place to ensure that the Civil Service accelerates progress on tackling under-representation.

  1. (i) the Cabinet Office has launched "Pathways." a central development programme targeted at minority ethnic staff with potential to rise to senior levels;
  2. (ii) the number of successful candidates for the Fast Stream scheme from minority ethnic backgrounds has doubled from 3.4 per cent in 1998 to 6.8 per cent in 2000;
  3. (iii) the Cabinet Office has launched a scheme pairing junior women with senior women from across the Civil Service to help each other with their development.

The information requested specifically for full-time civil servants at senior levels is given in the table below. No targets have been set for age.

Table: Full-time Senior Civil Service level by gender, ethnicity, disability status and agebana
Numbers Per cent
Male 2,599 78.6
Female 708 21.4

Table: Full-time Senior Civil Service level by gender, ethnicity, disability status and ageband
Numbers Per cent
Minority ethnic staff 76 2.3
Disabled 54 1.6
Age band
20–24 1 0.0
25–29 11 0.3
30–34 59 1.8
35–39 222 6.7
40–44 462 14.0
45–49 815 24.6
50–54 1,099 33.2
55–59 580 17.5
60–65 58 1.8
Total 3,307 100.0

Source: Mandate

Figures quoted are for Senior Civil Service level. This includes the Senior Civil Service itself, senior Diplomatic Service personnel and includes some senior specialist staff not in the Senior Civil Service.