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<p>Defence has been working hard to achieve a more diverse workforce. However, progress
in terms of the representative rates of our people – both military and civilian –
has been too slow. It is clear there is still much further to go if we are to successfully
attract and retain diverse talent both now and in the future. That is why we are renewing
our levels of ambition at the highest levels in Defence as we work to fulfil the key
objective in our 2018-2030 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to eliminate discrimination
and improve diversity throughout Defence.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015 the Ministry of
Defence (MOD) has been working towards a target for 10% of recruits into the Armed
Forces to be from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background by April 2020,
rising to 20% thereafter. These are challenging targets demonstrating the importance
Defence places on having Armed Forces reflecting the society they serve. I am pleased
to confirm the latest statistics show we have now exceeded the initial intake target
as 11.7% of recruits were Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority in the 12 months
to 31 March 2020. While this is an improvement, there is further long-term progress
to be made and sustained. Ongoing work to improve all aspects of diversity in MOD
continues, includes better understanding and greater engagement with the communities
the Armed Forces want to recruit from; reviewing recruitment processes; and better
targeting marketing and communications.</p><p> </p><p>As at 1 April 2020, the numbers
of UK Regular full-time Service personnel who had declared their ethnicity as BAME
and were serving at NATO Rank OF-6 or above (Brigadier and equivalent) were five or
fewer in each Service. In addition, fewer than five Senior Civil Servants employed
in each Command had declared their ethnicity as BAME. In line with standard statistical
disclosure methodology, the percentages associated with these figures have been suppressed
to ensure individuals are not inadvertently identified.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry
of Defence (MOD) publishes biannual statistics on diversity declarations for Armed
Forces personnel and MOD civilian staff. The latest editions can be found at the following
links:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-index"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-index</a></p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-diversity-dashboard-2020"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-diversity-dashboard-2020</a></p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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