§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the 2001 target for women's participation in the Northern Ireland Civil Service was met on time. [45987]
§ Jane KennedyIn its 2001 Departmental Report, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) declared its continued commitment to progressing Home Civil Service (HCS) and Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) service-wide targets for increased representation of women in the Senior Civil Service.
The 2001 target of 15 per cent. for NICs staff has already been surpassed since females currently make up 16.7 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service within the NICS group. Women presently make up 13 per cent. of the NCS Senior Civil Service group and, taking account of current trends, we would anticipate reaching the 2002 target of 15 per cent. by the end of the year.
Women are well represented in the NIO and currently make up 58.6 per cent of the organisation but, as with other Government departments, they are under-represented at the senior grades. The NIO wishes women to be fairly represented at all levels within the organisation and, as an indication of our commitment to this aim, we have actively progressed targets for HCS and NICS staff in the Department.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he expects the 2002 target for women's participation in the Home Civil Service to be met on time. [45989]
§ Dr. John ReidI refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to Question ref. 45987.