---

Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce ethnic monitoring in the reserve forces. [38100] Dr. Reid: My Department is fully committed to promoting within the Armed Forces an environment which is free from harassment and racial discrimination. As part of our efforts to further that commitment, we have decided to begin monitoring the ethnic origin of members of the reserve forces. Monitoring began on 1 April, and will cover all those who are in service, and all those who join the reserve forces in future. Altogether, we expect around 68,000 members of the reserve forces to be included in the survey. The Services are writing to units and individuals to invite them to take a full part in it. The initiative we are taking underlines the commitment that the Armed Forces have made to ensure equal opportunities irrespective of race. The methodology we shall follow for monitoring the reserves is based closely on that which is already in use for the regular Armed Forces. The statistical information derived from monitoring will allow the reserve force managers to analyse recruitment, wastage and other trends; and it will enable them to develop and pursue policies which ensure that racial discrimination of any kind is eradicated from the reserves. The reserve forces involved are principally those which recruit directly from civilian life. Specifically they are: the Royal Naval Reserve; the Royal Marines Reserve; the Territorial Army; the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training); the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (University Air Squadron); and volunteers to the Royal Air Force Reserve. Because our reserves are recruited locally, and because many of them serve part time, we do not expect the first statistics from the survey to be available until towards the end of this year. Thereafter, the information will be available quarterly.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

309 c603-4W; 38100

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Armed forces Equality Ethnic groups Monitoring Minority groups Racial discrimination Reserve forces