Government departments will have to double the number of disabled people in
senior Civil Service roles, under targets announced last week by Cabinet
minister Mo Mowlam.
By 2005, departments will have to increase the proportion to 3 per cent
which is double the 1998 figure, the latest available. This will see a rise
from 55 people to 110, out of a total of 3,724.
Launching the targets on 8 March, Mowlam said, "We are committed to
tackling the problem of under-representation in the senior Civil Service and to
building a public service that reflects the full diversity of society.
"We have already set targets to double the number of women and minority
staff in senior roles by 2005, and today’s announcement is another step towards
our goal of building a public service that is a part of, and not apart from,
the society it serves."
Permanent secretaries and heads of department will have to report annually
to ministers on steps being taken to reach the target. An annual report will be
made to the Prime Minister on progress as a whole.
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The targets form part of the Civil Service reform programme, launched in
December 1999, which aims to increase diversity in government departments.
