To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2008, Official Report, column 179W, on departmental equality, what percentage of (a) senior civil service and (b) top management positions in his Department were held by women; what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by black and minority ethnic employees; what percentage of positions were held by black and minority ethnic employees in his Department as a whole; what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by disabled employees; and what percentage of positions were held by disabled employees in his Department as a whole. (208116)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: As at April 2008:

the percentage of women in the core of our senior civil service was 12.2 per cent. If we include positions, such as MOD medical staff, who hold the equivalent grade, this figure is 14.5 per cent.;

the percentage of women in top management positions is 10.4 per cent.;

the percentage of senior civil service core positions that are held by black and minority ethnic employees is less than 1 per cent.;

3.1 per cent. of positions are held by black and minority ethnic employees in the Department as a whole;

4.2 per cent. of our core senior civil service positions are held by disabled employees (this percentage is based upon known records only, i.e. where individuals have declared what their disability status is); and

5.5 per cent. of positions within the Department as a whole (with known disability) are held by disabled employees.