Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Investment
Netherleigh
Massey Avenue, Belfast BT4 2JP
Telephone (028) 9052 9900 ext
Facsimilie (028) 9052 9550
Cathie White
Committee Clerk
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
Room 424
Parliament Buildings
BELFAST
BT4 3XX
15 February 2002
SERVICE DELIVERY AGREEMENT
1. In our evidence to the Committee on 6 February we undertook to provide a note on gender balance and expenditure on Research and Development. The note on gender balance has been prepared in conjunction with the Department of Finance and Personnel as that department has responsibility for NICS Personnel Management, including equality of opportunity in employment.
Gender Balance
2. The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), through the Civil Service Order (NI) 1999, has the continued responsibility for the general management and control of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). DFP exercises this responsibility in relation to Personnel Management by acting in concert with Departments, including DETI, to develop and establish agreed corporate NICS-wide strategies and policies for Personnel Management, including equality of opportunity in employment.
3. NICS equal opportunities policy is set out in a booklet issued to all staff and available on the Internet. DETI action on gender equality, as with other aspects of employment equality in relation to civil servants is therefore undertaken within this corporate NICS-wide framework.
4. NICS has in place a range of corporate actions, many of which are designed to address and promote equality of opportunity across all dimensions, these include training and awareness, procedures for dealing with complaints of discrimination or harassment. They also include formal affirmative action measures to address under-representation such as, in open recruitment competitions, particularly welcoming applications from groups known to be under-represented and the establishment of NICS-wide goals and timetables developed in close consultation with the Equality Commission and Trade Unions.
5. In addition, the NICS has in place a wide range of arrangements designed to facilitate all staff in achieving a work/life balance. These include flexible working hours and flexible working patterns, access to part-time working and job sharing and arrangements for special leave to deal with domestic circumstances. These are set out in the booklet 'Work Life Balance' recently issued to all staff and are in place throughout DETI.
6. Under-representation of women and of Roman Catholics is most marked amongst the more senior grades of the NICS and the Service has had goals and timetables in relation to gender and community background in place for the most senior administrative grades since 1992. Progress against these goals and timetables has been, and will continue to be, reported through the regular reports of the Service's Equal Opportunities Unit, located in the Department of Finance and Personnel. The most recent report, the Seventh Report, is available in the Library and on the Internet at www.dfpni.gov.uk
7. Thus DETI contributes to and fully supports the NICS corporate approach to equality of opportunity and is wholly committed to acting positively to promote equality of opportunity not only within the Department but also across the NICS as a whole.
Research and Development Expenditure
7. The table below sets out Research and Development expenditure as a percentage of GDP at market prices for the regions within the United Kingdom.
Civil & Defence R&D (£m) |
R&D as % of GDP at market prices |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 |
1996 |
1999 |
1993 |
1996 |
1999 |
|
UK |
9,069.0 |
9,431.0 |
11,302.0 |
1.40 |
1.23 |
1.25 |
England |
8,672.0 |
8,882.0 |
10,607.0 |
1.57 |
1.36 |
1.37 |
Wales |
112.0 |
108.0 |
203.0 |
0.42 |
0.34 |
0.56 |
Scotland |
245.0 |
359.0 |
393.0 |
0.43 |
0.54 |
0.52 |
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
0.54 |
0.52 |
8. The table shows that between 1993 and 1999 Northern Ireland expenditure on Civil and Defence R&D rose by 40%.
Written Questions
9. The Committee also sent the Department a number of questions for written response. These questions and their associated answers are enclosed and should be read in the context of the evidence previously provided to the Committee.
Terry Coyne pp
A W Hamilton