within occupational groups. The number of special circumstances
points available for this purpose has therefore been increased
from 50 to 75.
qualifications or
The final 50 points for modifying age,
experience to reflect the needs of particular occupations or
groups remain unchanged. The total number of points which can
be awarded to any individual under the special circumstances
heading is capped at 150.
A rather different framework will apply to the award of special
circumstances points in the Disciplined Services Class, to
reflect the varying needs of each service.
In both the General Occupational and Disciplined
Services
Classes, the points available for age and experience will now be
awarded pro-rata on a monthly rather
rather than annual basis. We
believe this to be a fairer approach, and it will also help to
reduce the "bunching" of equally scoring applicants around the
pass-mark for each occupational group.
On the question of age points, we considered very carefully with
the Governor whether the criteria should be adjusted to give more
points to
to those over 40 as some have suggested. We have
concluded that the proposed scale should not be changed. Maximum
points are justified for those aged 30 to 40 because people in
that age group would be moving into key positions in the years
up to 1997 and immediately after but a particularly large number
5