To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many former prisoners are employed by the Government's Equalities Office; and what the Office's policy is on the employment of former prisoners. (246333)

The Government Equalities Office was established in October 2007 and was formed of some 60 civil servants drawn from other Government Departments. The personnel records covering those staff are confidential to the original Department and are not accessible to GEO. The GEO began its own recruitment in December 2007. Since then, none of the 40 or so staff employed are former prisoners. The GEO adheres to the Civil Service Management Code and will employ former prisoners subject to satisfactory completion of character checks and security vetting.