HC Deb 21 July 1997 vol 298 c400W
Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the ethnic minorities have been appointed to the ranks of one, two, three or four-star officers in the(a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force since 1967. [7829]

Mr. Spellar

There is currently one one-star officer from the ethnic minorities in the RAF and none in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Army, although a one-star officer recently retired from the Army. This reflects the under-representation of the ethnic minorities in the armed forces, a position we are seeking to redress. A new management-led, self-classification survey of the ethnic origin of serving personnel was introduced in July 1996. Prior to this date records cannot be relied on.