Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure his Department complies with section 2.1.6 of the Civil Service Management Code; and whether that monitoring data gathered is shared with union representatives.

People related data is fundamental to monitoring the effectiveness of our policies and making people related decisions. The MoJ is a data-driven department and our workforce data is collated through a number of different mechanisms including from our HR System (SOP), our recruitment system (Oleeo) and the annual People Survey.

The Ministry of Justice collects data on age, gender, ethnic origin and disability as part of the application process. This diversity data is analysed quarterly to produce internal reporting on the outcomes of the recruitment process for each group. Data on gender, ethnic origin and disability for HMPPS recruitment outcomes are published externally every six months in the HM Prison and Probation Service workforce quarterly.

We collect protected characteristic diversity data from staff on our HR system.  Using this we produce a variety of internal management information that we use within MoJ to monitor fairness of processes.

This data is routinely shared across MoJ to help inform tactical, operational and strategic people related decision and to monitor and evaluate our policies and the decisions that have been made.

In England, in addition to the general duty, all public bodies have specific duties to publish annual equality information and prepare and publish equality objectives at least every four years, which the Ministry of Justice makes available in the public domain.

To comply with the specific duties of the Equality Act (PSED, 2010), MoJ staff in post diversity information is published in the annual Civil Service Statistics data tables. Key staff diversity figures are also included in the MoJ Annual Report and Accounts (ARA).

MoJ shares data (referenced in 2.1.6 of the Civil Service Management Code) with its recognised Trade Unions as part of regular engagement and statutory obligations