The Treasury has come under fire after it emerged that the department scrapped a numerical exam from its graduate recruitment process in 2020 to boost diversity. The change, made shortly after the death of George Floyd, was part of efforts to remove barriers for candidates from diverse backgrounds.
Details of the Test Removal
According to documents obtained by The Spectator via Freedom of Information requests, the Treasury quietly removed the numeracy test from its policy adviser graduate programme. The decision followed a review of the 2019 scheme, which concluded the programme was not diverse enough. The review recommended removing the numeracy test, citing an “adverse impact” on candidate diversity. Verbal reasoning exams were also dropped, with Whitehall complaining about “extremely high benchmarks”.
In place of these tests, the Treasury implemented the “Civil Service Strengths Test”, which includes questions such as whether candidates “prefer not to have to concentrate on one thing for too long”. Since the changes, the diversity of candidates passing the application process has increased, according to internal governance board minutes.
Political Backlash
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s economic spokesman, told The Telegraph: “If people can’t add up, they shouldn’t be in the Treasury. We need the best people, regardless of their background. As chancellor, I will end this nonsense and restore meritocracy to appointments.” Conservative MP Jack Rankin added: “Truly through the looking glass stuff, the public sector is so sick. They’ve sat around and decided, without dissent, that ethnicity is more important than numeracy in appointments to the Treasury. We must change this thinking – top to bottom.”
Dr Zubir Ahmed, reportedly considered by Andy Burnham as his Health Secretary, posted on X: “I’m sorry, but this is insane and helps no one.”
Treasury's Defense
The Treasury defended the changes, stating: “The Numerical Reasoning Test was removed due to evidence of the test having adverse impact on candidate diversity. Subsequently, the levels of adverse impact decreased in the 2020 campaign.” The department, now headed by Rachel Reeves, launched a drive for recruitment in 2019 aimed at improving diversity.
