RACE EQUALITY SCHEME 2002-2005 FOR THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: ARMED FORCES, CIVIL SERVICE AND MINISTRY OF DEFENCE POLICE

Foreword by Secretary of State

Secretary of State for Defence I am delighted to be introducing the Ministry of Defence’s Race Equality Scheme. I welcome the opportunity to review and explain the full range of the Department’s activities and to ensure that, in all of our day to day business, we recognise the importance of eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity and good relations between people from all ethnic groups.

Much of this Scheme is based on work that is already underway in the Armed Forces and the Civil Service. But there is more that we must do if we are to be recognised as leaders in the field of equal opportunities and diversity. I am confident that the Armed Forces and the MOD Civil Service will rise to the challenge and I see this plan - which formally embeds our approach to race equality into our policies and functions - as an integral part of the process.

We are taking great strides to increase the proportion of our recruits that come from the British ethnic minority communities. We are also working hard in the public arena to promote equality and good relations between people from different ethnic groups. The ‘We Were There’ exhibition and its accompanying award winning website have highlighted the highly significant contribution made to Britain's defence over the last two hundred years by the forebears of today's ethnic minority population. And we are working closely with a number of schools and colleges with high ethnic minority populations to raise awareness and offer support. For instance, we have formed a strategic partnership with some further education colleges in Central London, under which MOD staff act as mentors to students to give them practical advice on finding employment and completing job applications.

I believe that this Race Equality Scheme will allow us to build on initiatives like these, to ensure that the MOD continues to play its part in creating a more equal society for all ethnic groups.

Geoff Hoon signature

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