Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken in the last year to include a more positive image of ethnic minorities in recruitment advertising to the services.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWe have included more photographs of ethnic minority personnel in a wider diversity of circumstances in our recruitment advertising and given greater prominence to the fact that the armed forces are equal opportunity employers under the terms of the Race Relations Act.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional training has been given in the last year to recruitment officers to increase the number of applicants from ethnic minorities into the services.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAs part of the wide range of measures now being taken to attract more recruits from the ethnic minorities, the Army and RAF have in the course of this year introduced race relations and cultural awareness into the training syllabus for their recruiting staff. The Navy will introduce similar training in the new year.