Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Female Participation in STEM

Wednesday 24 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps include initiatives like T-levels to promote female participation in STEM.
  • Paul Howell praised the South Durham University Technical College in Newton Aycliffe for supporting women in engineering.
  • The Minister highlighted the importance of initiatives like Tomorrow's Engineers Code to increase diversity in STEM.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Aldous Con
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

Question

What steps she is taking to promote female participation in STEM. There are now more girls taking chemistry and biology at A-level than boys, but we need to continue making progress in other subjects such as engineering where only one in five students are women.

Answer from Vicky Ford (Minister for Women and Equalities)

Science and technology will drive our country's future and women are brilliant at STEM. Initiatives such as T-levels provide an excellent opportunity for girls interested in STEM.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not include concrete actions or initiatives beyond mentioning T-levels.

How: We Need To Continue Making Progress

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Q2 Paul Howell
Education Women & Equalities
Context

The MP highlights a specific example of the South Durham University Technical College in Newton Aycliffe, which offers excellent opportunities for girls interested in engineering and technical careers but currently has only about 20% female students.

Question

Could I ask the Minister to encourage young women to utilise options like the South Durham University Technical College in Newton Aycliffe? The UTC is supported by companies such as Hitachi and Gestamp. Does she agree that more should consider this educational option?

Answer from Vicky Ford (Minister for Women and Equalities)

I thank my hon. Friend for championing women in STEM. I congratulate the UTC in Newton Aycliffe for helping women to gain access to prestigious engineering jobs and higher technical opportunities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a concrete assurance about visiting the UTC or encouraging more female students to consider it.

How: A Really Proper And Meaningful Conversation With A Woman Role Model

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Q3 Peter Aldous Con
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The MP welcomes the Minister's previous reply but emphasises that to ensure young women have every opportunity to pursue their ambitions, there must be a career-long pathway including fair recruitment processes and alumni networks.

Question

Participation in STEM can lead to exciting career opportunities in such sectors as renewable energy. There must be a career-long pathway that enables them to realise their full potential, including fair recruitment processes and retention programmes. I would welcome an assurance from my hon. Friend that she is liaising with her ministerial colleagues.

Answer from Vicky Ford (Minister for Women and Equalities)

It is really positive that we have more women studying to become doctors and that four out of five students studying to become vets are women. Initiatives such as Tomorrow's Engineers Code, launched by EngineeringUK, bring together Government, business and academia to increase the number and diversity of young people pursuing engineering.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide assurances about liaising with colleagues or creating a route map with career-long pathways.

How: Initiatives Such As Tomorrow'S Engineers Code

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