HC Deb 16 July 2003 vol 409 cc50-2WS
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Douglas Alexander)

The eighth annual Civil Service Fast Stream Report was published on-linehttp://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/reports/faststream and a stock of summary flyers placed in the Libraries of the House. It covers the year from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, and reports the results of Fast Stream competitions completed during that period and the developments that have taken place.

The standard of entry to the Fast Stream development programme has remained consistently high and the Report shows that the Civil Service has had increasing success in filling its vacancies. In addition there has again been steady progress in broadening the diversity of Fast Stream recruits. Women and men applied in equal numbers, with women being marginally more successful overall. Both the proportions of candidates recruited from ethnic minority groups and of those recording a disability rose again this year. We are gradually improving the percentage of recruits from universities from which we have not traditionally recruited.