§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets his Department sets in respect of the recruitment of ethnic minority personnel into the Armed Forces. [25490]
§ Dr. ReidWe have made clear, on a number of occasions, our determination that the Armed Forces should better reflect the ethnic composition of our society. As part of this commitment I am pleased to announce that, for the year starting in April, the goal for each Service will be that 2 per cent. of new recruits should be from the ethnic minorities, with that figure rising annually by 1 per cent. so that it reaches 5 per cent. by the end of the622W financial year 2000–02 and in time reflects the proportion of people from ethnic minority communities in the wider population.
These recruiting goals represent a major challenge for all in the Services, especially recruiting personnel, and will be reflected in the Ministry of Defence Departmental Plan. I am confident that they are realistic and provide a strong indication of our wish to make real, tangible progress in this area.