§ Baroness Williams of Crosbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps are being taken to increase the entry of Asian and Afro-Caribbean British citizens to armed forces officer training courses. [HL2293]
§ Lord GilbertThis Government are committed to ensuring that the composition of the Armed Forces better represents the make up of the society that they seek to defend. The recruitment of more ethnic minority personnel is, therefore, one of our highest priorities. The ethnic minority recruitment goals for the financial year 1998–99 underline the Armed Forces' commitment to make progress in this area. The initiatives we have underway are designed to encourage young people from ethnic backgrounds to consider a career in the Armed Forces irrespective of whether they wish to be officers or other ranks. The services, however, are aiming to encourage more young people from ethnic communities to take up bursaries and cadetships at universities.
Recent measures include two tri-service initiatives underway in the Boroughs of Newham and Sandwell. The Army has recently completed an ethnic minorities recruitment campaign in the Borough of Brent, the results of which are awaited. In addition, there are a number of other single service initiatives in place and all three services supplement their initiatives with targeted advertising, marketing activity, and attendance at local ethnic minority festivals and careers conventions. The overall aim is to encourage interest in the Armed Forces from the widest possible ethnic minority audience.