Nia Griffith MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Defence, responding to today’s Armed Forces Biannual Diversity Statistics, said:
“What today’s findings show is that progress has been very slow and the proportion of female representation in the UK Regular Forces has risen by less than a percent since October 2012. Although things are slightly better with BAME personnel there is still much more work that needs to be done.
“There needs to be a step change with recruitment and retention if we’re to meet the targets of 10% BAME and 15% female personnel in our Armed Forces. We also need to see vast improvements when it comes to getting female and BAME personnel into the highest ranks.
“Our diversity is a great strength to our society and can be to our Armed Forces but more needs to be done. The Government said they would bring forward new strategic equality objectives in Autumn 2017 but nothing has been published.
“If they are serious about their diversity targets, the Government must publish a new diversity strategy as soon as possible”.
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