Disabled staff targets

Targets to double the proportion of staff with disabilities in the

senior civil service have been announced by the Cabinet Office.

By March 2005 the proportion of disabled staff in the senior civil

service is expected to be 3%, which equates to doubling the figure of 55 disabled workers in 1998.

Announcing the target, Cabinet Office minister Mo Mowlem said: "We have already set targets to double the number of women and ethnic minority staff in senior roles by 2005, and today's announcement is another step towards our goal of building a public service that is a part of, and not apart from, the society it serves".

Heads of department and permanent secretaries will be expected to report annually to ministers and a report on progress on all targets in the civil service will be made in May.