Women in the Armed Forces 2022-02-21
2022-02-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Defence Committee's report on women in the armed forces made several recommendations.
What recent assessment has been made of the experience of women employed in the armed forces? The Defence Committee's report on women in the armed forces made several important recommendations. What steps have been taken to address these?
Women are an integral part of our armed forces with thriving careers. The Ministry of Defence's service women's network has adopted almost all the recommendations from the Defence Committee's report and in many cases has taken them further.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Women serving alongside their husbands or partners have lost out on military accommodation and promotions after reporting incidents of domestic violence.
Women serving in the forces alongside their husband or partner have lost out on their military accommodation when they report incidents of domestic violence, because the Army has prioritised the needs of the male soldier. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that victims are not further victimised by armed forces processes?
I am saddened to hear what the hon. Lady says. I would be delighted to meet her to discuss it; if she brings along the detail of the examples, I will be very happy to sort this. No one should be disadvantaged for making a service complaint or indeed a criminal complaint.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific steps being taken are not clearly outlined.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Recognition of the appointment and work of Bea Walcot, a female defence attaché.
May I pay tribute to the appointment and work of our defence attaché in Vietnam, Bea Walcot? Does the Secretary of State agree that there is huge potential for women in such roles, which combine diplomacy and procurement as well as armed forces expertise?
Some of our best ambassadors are women, and I hope that soon even more of our best defence attachés will be women. Defence engagement is an extremely important part of defence, with better infrastructure, training, and support committed to the network through the defence Command Paper.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific commitment or steps towards increasing the number of female defence attachés are not clearly provided.
Response accuracy