To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, what positive action development is expected to be provided for staff by his Department's Development Plus programme for under-represented groups. [28291]

The Development Plus programme is a positive action learning and development programme for female, minority ethnic and disabled staff across the Home Office, at the levels where there is under-representation. The aim of the programme is to enable participants to increase their skills, address the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential and to help them compete more effectively for promotion. This will enable all staff to progress on merit.