§ 27. Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the role and objectives of the proposed Tri-Service Equal Opportunities Training Centre at Shrivenham. [61368]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonI officially opened the Tri-Service Equal Opportunities Training Centre, co-located with the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, on 25 September 1998. The Centre has been established to deliver equal opportunities training to Service and civilian personnel holding the appointment of Equal Opportunities Advisers and selected military trainers throughout the Service command chain. It also provides, with the assistance of an outside contractor, mandatory awareness seminars for senior Service officers and MOD Senior Civil Servants.
The work of the Centre complements the wide range of equal opportunities training and initiatives already instigated by the MOD and the three Services. It has a vital role to play in the Armed Forces' drive to eradicate unacceptable behaviour and to explain both organisational 58W and individual responsibilities. It encourages a top down—bottom up approach to equal opportunities awareness. This approach ensures that the specific work and initiatives employed by EO advisers are supported at the highest level by senior officers providing positive, informed leadership.