HC Deb 24 June 2002 vol 387 cc679-80W
Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ethnic monitoring is conducted by the Army. [63199]

Mr. Ingram

The Army monitors its equal opportunities climate through the use of both quantitative and qualitative data. It is currently looking at recruitment progress of ethnic minority personnel in relation to their non-ethnic counterparts and the representation of ethnic minorities in the Army. In addition, the armed forces are currently undertaking a full re-survey of the ethnic origin of all personnel in line with the revised categories contained in the 2001 census.

Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of soldiers in each of the guards regiments are members of an ethnic minority. [63214]

Mr. Ingram

The data detailed represents the proportion of soldiers, trained and untrained, in each of the Guards Regiments that have been recorded as members of an ethnic minority. Due to the current ethnic re-categorisation survey being undertaken within the Ministry of Defence the figures are as at 1 October 2001, which is the latest available data.

Regiments Percentage
Grenadier Guards 3.0
Coldstream Guards 0.8
Scots Guard 1.3
Irish Guards 3.3
Welsh Guards 1.3
Total 1.9

The figure does not include those with unspecified ethnic origin. Guards in an unspecified regiment have not been included.