HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 cc1148-9W
Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in the Royal Group of Hospitals. Belfast in(a) clinical and medical, (b) secretarial and administrative, (c) ancillary and cleaning. (d) security and (e) catering positions; and what percentage in each category are non-Roman Catholics. [186989]

Angela Smith

The information requested is as follows. Clinical staff are those who provide a direct service to patients. Therefore, clinical staff within this trust include the following terms and conditions groups: nursing, midwifery and health visiting, professional and technical, medical and dental. It was impossible to break down the figures for ancillary and cleaning, security and catering as requested so information has been provided as detailed. Cleaning and security staff are employed by the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS and are included in the figures for operatives.

(a) Table 1: Number of clinical staff positions in the Royal Group

of Hospitals HSS1Trust as at 23 July 2004 and percentage in each

category that are non-Roman Catholics

Group Headcount WTE2 Percentage

of staff non-

Roman

Catholic

Nursing, midwifery and health

visiting staff

2,761 2,291.95 46.12
Professional and technical Staff 864 770.31 55.56
Medical staff 675 635.73 83.72
1Health and Social Services
2Whole time equivalent

(b) Table 1: Number of administration and clerical positions in

the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS1Trust as at 23 July 2004 and

percentage that are non-Roman Catholics

Group Headcount WTE2 Percentage

of staff non-

Roman

Catholic

Administration and clerical

staff

1,090 970.5 27.80
1Health and Social Services
2Whole time equivalent

(c), (d) and (e) Table 1: Number of ancillary and general

positions in the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS1Trust as at

23 July 2004 and percentage that are non-Roman Catholics

Grades Headcount WTE2 Percentage

of staff non-

Roman

Catholic

Operative 715 485.07 4.2
Catering assistant 155 109.00 7.1
Cook 27 24.59 18.52
Other grades 26 24.78 26.90
1Health and Social Services
2Whole time equivalent

Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to ensure equality of opportunity for employment at he Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast. [186990]

Angela Smith

The Royal Group of Hospitals carry out a three yearly review of their employment composition and practices in accordance with Article 55 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. The last review, carried out in 2002, was submitted to the Equality Commission, which is the body with responsibility to ensure compliance with the legislation. All job vacancies are advertised widely and the advert includes a statement welcoming applicants from groups which are currently under represented in the work force. The Royal Group of Hospitals also promotes equality of opportunity for all groups covered under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.