Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any of the Going Forward into Employment programmes which recruit Civil Servants require the recruits to be from a working class socio-economic background to be eligible.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) provides support for individuals who face barriers into employment, including those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

GFiE recruiting pathways with eligibility criteria that directly support candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds include:

• DCMS Learn & Grow Pathway

• DWP Social Mobility Apprenticeship

• Crown Prosecution Service Diversifying CPS Careers

• MHCLG Masterclass Pathway

• Home Office Pathway to Employment

There are also GFiE recruiting pathways that may include people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, but have wider eligibility criteria, for example pathways supporting care leavers, people with convictions, veterans and others. All pathways and eligibility can be viewed at https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/about-gfie/.