Notes:

1. Data have not been provided in any group where there are less than 5 reports in total or where totals of less than 5 could be ascertained to ensure that individual anonymity is protected. Such entries have been marked with an asterisk.

2. Data in the 'disability' group comprise staff who have declared a disability. Those in the 'no disability' group comprise all others.

3. The definitions of the overall box markings for staff in grades AA-Grade 6 are as follows:

Box 1 Outstanding

Box 2 Performance significantly above requirements

Box 3a Performance fully effective in all respects

Box 3b Performance sufficient for the needs of the job

Box 4 Improvements to performance required in some respects

Box 5 Unsatisfactory

4. Staff in the Senior Civil Service also have 2+ and 3+ but no 3b markings. The 2+ data have been included with the Box 2 data and the 3+ data with the Box 3a data.

5. Data cover all reports with a 1998 report date and entered onto the computer system by 19 March 1999. Some of the 1998 reports will not yet be on the system and as such the data will be incomplete.

6. Data include leavers.

Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. John McDonnell, dated March 1999:

As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food requesting information on the appraisal performance markings awarded to civil servants in 1998 broken by down (i) grade, (ii) gender, (iii) ethnicity, (iv) part-time/full-time working and (v) disability and whether the Cabinet Office's four fifths rule for detecting potential adverse impact was applied to the appraisal markings of civil servants in the 1998 report round, has been passed to me to reply as regards this Executive Agency.

The breakdown of the 1998 overall performance markings for staff in the MHS is attached. The MHS is considering the data for any indications of possible adverse impact.

Note

Figures measured over 1,191 employees.

Abbreviations

TMHI Trainee Meat Hygiene Inspector

MTEC Meat Technician

PMI Poultry Meat Inspector

MHI Meat Hygiene Inspector

SPMI Senior Poultry Meat Inspector

SMHI Senior Meat Hygiene Inspector

OVS Official Veterinary Surgeon

Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. John McDonnell, dated March 1999:

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), to your question concerning appraisal performance markings awarded to staff in 1998.

The breakdown of 1998 overall performance markings for staff in CSL is set out on the attached sheet.

My staff are considering current data, along with historic data, for any indications of possible adverse impact.

Notes:

1. A breakdown by box markings is not presently available in terms of ethnicity.

2. The definitions of the overall box markings are as follows:

Box 1 Outstanding

Box 2 Performance significantly above requirements

Box 3a Performance fully effective in all respects

Box 3b Performance sufficient for the needs of the job

Box 4 Improvements to performance required in some respects Box 5 Unsatisfactory

3. Data covers all reports with a 1998 report date.

4. Data includes leavers.

5. Staff in the Senior Civil Service are included in the MAFF breakdown of 1998 overall performance markings.

Letter from Sarah Nason to Mr. John McDonnell, dated 23 March 1999:

The Minister has asked me to respond, in respect of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA), to your question about performance appraisal markings awarded to civil servants in 1998 for his Department and each agency in his Department, broken down by grade; gender; ethnicity; part-time/full-time working and disability; and whether the Cabinet Office's four-fifths rule for detecting potential adverse impact was applied to the appraisal markings of civil servants in the 1998 report round.

I enclose a breakdown as requested of performance markings from the 1997–98 reporting year for staff in FRCA. FRCA staff are in different grades to those in the core department, but for your ease of reference we have converted the grade data to the nearest MAFF equivalents.

Work is in hand to analyse this data for any indications of possible adverse impact.

Notes:

*Data not provided as this would enable individuals' report markings to be ascertained.

Definitions of overall performance markings are as follows:

Box 1—Outstanding

Box 2—Very Good

Box 3—Satisfactory

Box 4—Improvement Necessary

Box 5—Unsatisfactory

Data covering 1997–98 reports input onto the Agency's computerised Human Resources System by 15 March 1999. Data do not include leavers.

Letter from P. W. Greig-Smith to Mr. John McDonnell, dated March 1999:

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food has asked me to reply to your question on appraisal performance markings in 1998. I am replying on behalf of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).

The breakdown of overall performance markings for staff in CEFAS is set out overleaf.