Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eric Ollerenshaw and Baroness Featherstone

Thursday 22nd July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con)]

3. What discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on increasing recruitment to the civil service from black, Asian and other minority ethnic people.

[The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone)]

Black, Asian and other minority ethnic representation in the civil service has been increasing steadily, and is broadly representative of the economically active population. We are committed to attracting the best talent from the widest possible pool of candidates. They have been targeted, and successful efforts have been made to render the civil service and the fast stream more diverse. My Cabinet Office colleagues are examining the range of BAME internships run by the Departments, and I expect to have discussions with them on the matter in due course.

[Eric Ollerenshaw]

We all welcome the Government’s announced policy on internships for under-represented minorities. How much progress has been made on that vital policy so far?