§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answer given by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 5th March 1996 (H.L. Deb., WA 15), whether they will introduce measures to encourage the recruitment and promotion of ethnic minorities in the senior grades of the Diplomatic Service, and, if not, why not.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)We have a comprehensive programme for action for ethnic minority staff. This aims to ensure equal access to recruitment, promotion, career development and training for ethnic minority officers, especially in grades where they are under represented. Our personnel procedures are monitored to ensure equal opportunities policies are implemented.
We are targeting our recruitment of ethnic minority graduates (our future senior grade potential) with an active recruitment programme. Ethnic minority officers speak at recruitment fairs, we advertise in publications aimed at ethnic minority readers and work closely with the Windsor Fellowship, holding two open days a year.