§ 26. Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Army's ethnic recruitment initiative in Brent. [70517]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Army's recruiting initiative in Brent was an integral part of the Army ethnic minority recruiting campaign for 1997–98, and was designed to last for three months between January and March 1998. The Brent campaign was used as a trial of a Community Partnership Model developed by a consultancy firm. Under this approach, personnel are allocated specifically to liaise with council, education and community leaders and students, in order to promote the Army as a potential career.
Research carried out before and after this initiative shows that it was a success, and that it has created a generally more positive attitude to the Army in Brent.
During the current financial year, the Army has included Brent in its programme of visits by recruiting teams, including the Ethnic Minority Recruiting Team, 25W and links with the community continue to improve. The Army is currently on target to achieve its aim that two per cent. of its recruits for the year should come from ethnic minorities.
The Community Partnership Model will be employed at various locations around the country over the next three years, including Brent, with the aim of increasing ethnic minority recruiting to five per cent. over this period.