§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe last such survey was conducted in 1988. A further survey is being conducted at the moment.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1 to 7) and overall in the Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe information on ethnic minorities is based on a voluntary survey conducted since 1988 to which not all staff responded. The figures as at January 1991 are as follows:
Women Ethnic minorities Number per cent. Number per cent. Grade 1 0 — 0 — Grade 2 0 — 0 — Grade 3 1 1.6 0 — Grade 4 0 — 0 — Grade 5 8 2.5 0 — Grade 6 10 1.2 4 0.5 Grade 7 85 2.9 18 0.6 Overall 40,202 28.7 1,847 1.3
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Ministry.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkRecruitment at grade 7 level is undertaken by the Civil Service Commission on behalf of the MOD. Entry to grades above grade 7 is normally through internal promotion procedures.
Table A Regiment/Corps Recruiting area The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) Scotland Queens Royal Irish Hussars Northern Ireland, Surrey, Sussex, London 14th/20th Kings Hussars Lancashire (including Greater Manchester), Isle of Man 16th/5th The Queens Royal Lancers Staffordshire Queens Dragoon Guards Wales, Shropshire, Herefordshire 2 Field Regiment Royal Artillery Greater Manchester 12 Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery Cumbria, Lancashire 26 Field Regiment Royal Artillery Surrey, Sussex 32 Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery Cheshire, Isle of Man, Merseyside 39 Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery West Midlands, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire 40 Field Regiment Royal Artillery Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire