Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he is taking to encourage people from all ethnic groups to join the armed forces.

The Defence Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, published in October, is based on achieving a vision that reflects our recognition that the recruitment, and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to Defence and wider society.

The Armed Forces are working towards a target of 10 per cent of recruits to come from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds by 2020.

Work to increase representation from minority ethnic groups includes better understanding and greater engagement with these communities, reviewing recruitment processes; and better targeted marketing and communications towards potential applicants.