Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 November 2010.

Civil Service: Staff

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the monitoring of the socio-economic background of civil service applicants and appointees will begin; what are the criteria for determining such backgrounds; and what level of differing backgrounds for applicants and appointees would be assessed as reasonable.

Answer: The Government collected and published socioeconomic data for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) at director general grades and above in January 2010 and now collects data for new entrants into the SCS. Monitoring of the socioeconomic background of fast-stream applicants will begin with effect from the 2011 entry. The Civil Service uses three measures of socio-economic background: educational history, parental education history, and parental employment history. There are no plans to introduce a wider requirement for Civil Service departments to monitor the socio- economic backgrounds of all applicants and appointees. There are no targets for achieving a particular proportion of employees from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4231; 722 c293WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Civil Service: Staff
Monday, 6 December 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Civil servants Recruitment Social class
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk