Civil service interns must be working class

[GJABS]

Latest lunacy from the red peril in charge:

The government will restrict civil service internships to students from poorer families as part of a drive from ministers to make Whitehall more working class.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ez3v9v8jqo

Though not directly relevant to us, I fear this could be the thin edge of the wedge if they expand it out to contract roles.

In fact, quite by coincidence, a few days ago I applied to a public sector contract role through agency PSR. It asked questions about my parents' occupation, and I answered truthfully that my father was a research scientist.

Today I've gone in to my profile on there, and changed the answer to binman.

[Protagoras]

:

In fact, quite by coincidence, a few days ago I applied to a public sector contract role through agency PSR. It asked questions about my parents' occupation, and I answered truthfully that my father was a research scientist.

What does one's parents' occupations have to do with ability to perform a role; how is asking such a question even reasonable?

[WTFH]

What does one's parents' occupations have to do with ability to perform a role; how is asking such a question even reasonable?

Well, it’s a slippery slope, if we knew what the role was, etc, or the rest of the questions being asked.
Applying for a role at GCHQ, you might be asked about various family members. Applying to be a hospital porter, less so.
”Public sector” has such a broad definition that being vague means you can create your own slippery slope.
… Cue the Stuart Lee routine about being arrested for being English.

[courtg9000]

I can't wait to see the revised TFL diversity form!

[willendure]

Bloody hell. And to think they used to recruit from grammar schools!

[xoggoth]

What next? Politicians must lack any common sense. Oh wait...

[ladymuck]

Are these paid internships? Usually such openings are only accessible to those at the wealthier end of the food chain on account of the bank of Mummy and Daddy supporting their precious progeny.

[courtg9000]

Are these paid internships? Usually such openings are only accessible to those at the wealthier end of the food chain on account of the bank of Mummy and Daddy supporting their precious progeny.

Often also reserved for the very attractive daughters of preferred clients no matter how unintelligent the progeny are! Or The CEO's niece!

[hobnob]

Are these paid internships? Usually such openings are only accessible to those at the wealthier end of the food chain on account of the bank of Mummy and Daddy supporting their precious progeny.

That was my first thought - I know that people from poorer families can't afford to be unpaid media interns, which skews the demographics.

However, in this case the BBC article says:

A summer internship programme already exists. The programme is for undergraduates in their final two years of university, lasts six to eight weeks and is paid, with a salary of £430 per week.

There's a risk that this will skew the demographics the other way, i.e. people from poorer families will be over-represented. However, I assume that it's still possible to apply for a job in the civil service without doing an internship.