Context
The Wigston review identified higher levels of harassment and bullying against ethnic minority serving personnel compared to white British counterparts. The Atherton review recently addressed structural challenges faced by women in the military.
Question
In 2019, the Wigston review identified that serving personnel from ethnic minority backgrounds are subject to higher levels of harassment and bullying than their white British counterparts. Given the recent success of the Atherton review, which cast light on the structural challenges faced by women in the armed forces, and given that 16% of the British Army workforce comes from ethnic minority groups, does the ministerial team think it might be time to have an Atherton-style review, independent of the MOD, into the challenges faced by ethnic minority groups to ensure and enhance recruitment, retention and promotional opportunities?
Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)
I thank the hon. Member for his useful comments. We have launched our Raising our Standards programme, which will take standards from where they were and raise them. We will make Defence the most inclusive career and, indeed, the most rewarding for any part of society to join. The Defence Committee will hold us to account on some of that.
Not addressed: Did not directly address the need for an Atherton-style review for ethnic minorities or explicitly confirm or deny such a review's necessity and timing.
How: We Have Launched Our Raising Our Standards Programme, The Defence Committee Will Hold Us To Account On Some Of That
Was this summary accurate? Tell us
How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)