State of Black Britain

Some selected statistics, with a brief over-view of key sectors in the professions and public services.

Population
Mid-1990 figures show there were just over 3 million black people in Britain (i.e. people who did not classify themselves as white), making up about 5.5% of the population of 55 million.

Black people make up 6.2% of the population of England, 1.5% of Wales and 1.3% of the population of Scotland. In London, black people are one-fifth of the population.

Almost a half of all the black people, and seven out of eight black children, have been born in the UK.

The Law
Of solicitors now entering the profession, 15.8% are black, up from 11.8% in 1993; and 8.5% of all barristers are non-white. The Black Lawyers Society contends there are high failure rates due to discriminatory practices in schools and law offices.

Medicine
Continued racism reported, though proportion of non-whites entering medical schools is said to have risen from historically low levels.

Armed Services
The military accepts that it has been "unwittingly" prejudiced in the past. At present less than 1% of service employees are of ethnic origin. But a target of 5% is set for Year 2002.

Police, Probation, Fire and security services Substantial evidence of racial exclusion. And Blacks and Asians are over-represented in stop and search figures and in prisons.

Schools
7% of secondary school teachers are now of ethnic origin, as are 5% of primary teachers.

University
About 15 per cent of university students are of Black and Asian backgrounds. Academic staff from these backgrounds comprise less than six per cent, and are mainly in the newer and less prestigious establishments. Many suffer discrimination over job applications, promotions, and harassment and negative stereotyping.

Business and Industry
The Commission for Racial Equality challenges British business leaders to combat widespread discrimination. British Airways claims it employs 5,850 non-white staff - 13% of its total workforce - but bulk is in lower non-airborne grades. Marks and Spencer claims increases in its ethnic staff from 5.7% in 1995 to 9.95% in the late 1990's, but these gains are threatened by a downturn in profits and market share.

Wealth
Ethnic minorities are underrepresented among Britain's richest. In 1993 only eight non-whites featured in the Sunday Times Rich List. By 1998, this had risen to 18, or 4.5%, with some increases in 1999.

Population Sources: Owen, D. (1992-1995) 1991 Census Statistical Papers 1-9, Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick; Ethnic Minorities in Britain, CRE Fact Sheet 1997.

Other information drawn from The Sunday Times 28 February 1999 and The Independent 18 June 1999. Sources include: Law Society and Bar Council; Council of Heads of Medical Schools report, October 1998; HESA publication Students in Higher Education 1996/97; The Teacher Training Agency; Labour Force Survey Autumn 19998; The Employment Policy Institute; Black Employment Inityiative; Home Office Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 1998; Office of National Statistics 1991 Census.

The Editor welcomes comments, corrections, and updated information. Send e-mails to: editor@thechronicle.demon.co.uk