SCOTLAND'S most senior civil servant has been told she presides over "one of the most chronically under-representative organisations in our country".
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar challenged Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans on the issue during a meeting of the Public Audit Committee.
She conceded there is "much more to do" but said action is being taken to address issues such as the under-representation of black and minority ethnic (BAME) people in the civil service.
Sarwar is one of just four BAME MSPs to have been elected in the 21 years of devolution – with Holyrood never having had a female BAME representative.
The Glasgow MSP recently became the first BAME chairman of a Scottish Parliament committee, taking over the role of convener of the Public Audit Committee on an interim basis while his Labour colleague Jenny Marra is on maternity leave.
READ MORE: These are the Scottish statues anti-racist campaigners want to see removed
He told Evans: "I welcome the signs of solidarity that you and others in the Scottish Government have shown in taking the knee and in showing solidarity with minority communities.
"But to be frank it will be actions that people will judge the Scottish Government on and officials on, rather than their words."
Evans told him: "Yes I agree we have much more to do."
Speaking in the wake of recent Black Lives Matters demonstrations across the UK, including in Scotland, and the day after MSPs debated the issue in Holyrood, she said she has "redoubled" her efforts and "focused the organisation even more sharply on this".
The Permanent Secretary told Sarwar: "I'll give you a couple of examples. We have done a lot of work in trying to ensure that our recruitment – when we are able to externally recruit – reflects the diversity of Scotland and the diversity and inclusion policies of the organisation.
"So we have done quite practical things there in terms of where we recruit, how we attract people, bringing people into the organisation before they decide to apply for a job to see whether it will work for them or not, how we are opening up our interest to schools and universities and modern apprentices, our graduate development scheme.
"Those large-scale external recruitments have attracted a much more diverse set of applicants than we have previously had.
"We now have the highest level of minority ethnic colleagues in senior civil service than we've ever had ... it's gone from 3% to 4% in senior civil service."
She added this is "not enough" but shows "it is working".
Evans added mentoring is being done "encouraging people to move up and through the organisation".
She added: "More broadly, what I am particularly keen on – and have been emphasising in my own communications and my challenge to the organisation – is how we ensure that our policy-making, our work for the national performance framework, that we really are hearing all the voices."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel