Public Servant Lifestyle

Figures reveal that more than half of UK Civil Servants are women. The previous headcount, six months previously, showed a 50-50 equal split, between male and female workers.

The Civil Service now has 255,550 women staff (50.5%).

Other key findings, in two reports from the Office of National Statistics, include: - More than 4,000 new people joining the Civil Service, with staff numbers reaching 482,400 - an increase of 4,200 (or 0.9%).

- The proportion of staff that are known to have a disability now standing at 3.1 %, down from 3.6 %, in October 2000.

- The proportion of Civil Service staff from ethnic minority groups remaining approximately the same, over 12 months, at around 6%.

- In the complete year, to April 2001, the number of permanent staff increased by 7,300, or 1.5 %. There was a rise of around 1,000 in the number of casual staff, so the overall level of staffing increased by some 8,200, or 1.7 %.

- Over the six-month period to April 2001, numbers of full-time staff increased by 2,200, and the number of part-time staff increased by 2,800, bringing total staff numbers, on a headcount basis, to 506,400. Part-time staff represent 13.8 % of all Civil Servants, up, from 13.4 % six months before, and 13.1 %, from April 2000.

- Most of the increase in permanent staff numbers, in the six months to April 2001, were connected to increased volumes of work, or the provision of new services, including:

- Home Office - (up 1,800) continuing to increase staff numbers, due to the recruitment of staff in the Immigration and Nationality department, mainly to deal with the volumes of work related to asylum cases.

- Inland Revenue - up 500, due to workload changes, and specific projects, included in the department's Government Expenditure Plans.

- National Assembly for Wales - up 430, as agencies are brought into the National Assembly for Wales, following devolution. These include: Farming and Conservation Agency (110 staff), the Welsh Drug and Alcohol Unit (10 staff) and Clinical Excellence Support Unit (10 staff). Additional staff were recruited to meet operational needs.

- MAFF (since June 2001, incorporated into Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - up 380, with some of this increase related to the Foot and Mouth crisis, with additional veterinary staff having to be recruited.

- Customs and Excise - up 220, as staff were recruited, following reorganisations, which have included setting up call centres, and centralised units.

- Cabinet Office - up 130, mainly to enable them to meet their objective of putting all public services online, by 2005.

- Variations in casual staffing levels can be attributed to the local needs of departments, although overall numbers decreased by over 900, in the six months to April 2001. Major changes were mostly in the opposite direction.

- Benefits Agency - up 400, to meet local office requirements.

- Customs and Excise - up 160, following reorganisations, temporary staff were recruited, to meet immediate needs.

- MAFF - up 130, as animal health officers were recruited, from agricultural colleges, to assist with the Foot and Mouth crisis.

Organisational changes, during the six months to April 2001 include:

- Postal Services Commission launched, with 25 staff, mostly from other government departments

- 40 staff, from the Registry of Friendly Societies, transferred to the Financial Services Authority.

- Shadow Strategic Rail Authority became a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) - 220 staff dropped from the count.

- Taking permanent and casual staff together, there was an increase of about 3,200 staff, or 0.7 %, in comparison to October 2000 figures.

- Staff employed in the Scottish Parliament, established in July, are not included in these figures.

Civil service diversity figures show:

- 2.4% of staff at Senior Civil Service level are from minority ethnic background, up from 2.1% in April 2000.

- 2% of staff at Senior Civil Service level are disabled, up from 1.7% in April 2000.

In addition, Cabinet Office figures for the Senior Civil Service show that there were also more women at senior levels in April 2001

These indicate:

- 24.2% of the Senior Civil Service are women, up from 21.6% in April 2000.

- 20.2% of those in the very top posts are women, up from 17.7% in April 2000. This represents 140, out of 693, and there are now four women at permanent secretary level.

These figures, says the Cabinet Office, represent "good progress" towards Civil Service diversity targets for 2004/5.

The Civil Service diversity targets for 2004/5 are:

- Women in the Senior Civil service at 35% (doubled, from 17.8% in 1998).

- Women in top 600 posts at 25% (doubling, from 12.7%).

- Minority ethnic staff at Senior Civil Service level at 3.2% (doubling, from 1.6%, in 1998)

- Disabled staff at Senior Civil Service levels at 3.0% (doubling, from 1.5%, in 1998).

Progress Welcomed

Sir Richard Wilson, head of the Home Civil Service, welcomed the progress being made. " These figures are very encouraging," he said. They represent a continued improvement in the diversity of the Civil Service, in line with our reform programme, and they reflect the strong commitment of the Service to achieving its objectives on diversity. But we cannot slacken our efforts. There is still a long way to go."

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