HC Deb 20 May 2002 vol 386 c145W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect statistics on the religious affiliation of staff employed in the NHS with special reference to Muslim women in the work force; and if he will make a statement. [55439]

Mr. Hutton

The Department does not collect these data centrally and there are no plans to do so. Ministers are, however, concerned about the treatment of staff as a result of their religion or belief and through the "Positively Diverse" programme are engaged in a service-wide initiative to look at how local employers can best ensure that their work force reflects the communities they serve.