§ 23. Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policies he has introduced under the programme agreed with the Commission for Racial Equality. [4332]
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§ Mr. SoamesFollowing my Department's agreement with the Commission for Racial Equality earlier this year, a number of measures concerning racial equality issues in all three services have been introduced. A new system of monitoring the ethnic origin of inquirers and applicants to the armed forces was introduced on 1 June 1996 and a new survey of the ethnic origin of serving personnel has recently been completed. Work is currently in hand to analyse this material and quarterly thereafter. Considerable work has also been undertaken on revising Household Cavalry recruitment literature and all Household Cavalry personnel have been reminded of the Army's policy on racial equality. A vigorous training programme for these personnel is being undertaken and the Army's outreach work in ethnic minority communities continues to be strengthened. The Department continues to work closely with the Commission for Racial Equality in implementing the agreed programme and equal opportunities directives for all three services have now been issued.