§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department. [145998]
§ Mr. Pearson3.5 per cent. of the senior civil servants employed in the Northern Ireland Office have declared a disability. The corresponding figure for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is 3 per cent.,
The NIO is awaiting the detailed results of the Northern Ireland 2001 Census before setting a Departmental target for people with disabilities in the Senior Civil Service.There are a number of measures in place to improve the representation of disabled people at all levels in the NIO, including in senior posts:Since 1998 the NIO has run a bursary scheme for staff below SCS level with disabilities, where the recipient is provided with a fast-track development programme of training, mentor ing and work placements to enable them to compete at the senior grades:The Department has participated in the Cabinet Office 2003 Summer Placement Scheme for disabled graduates/undergraduates. The eight week placement, at fast stream level, provides the participant with high quality work experience to attract them to the opportunities of a future fast stream career in the Civil Service;Reasonable adjustment measures are provided to assist existing staff with disabilities to remain in work; andWork is carried out with schools and organisations for disabled people in Northern Ireland to increase their-awareness of the job opportunities available within the Civil Service.