Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

STEM Workforce: Diversity and Inclusion

Wednesday 22 May 2024 · 5 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The science and technology framework aims to expand STEM opportunities to a diverse range of people.
  • The Government have made progress on equality, noting that girls now make up 52% of all science entries at A-level.
  • The Minister commended initiatives like Sir James Dyson's 6 million donation to Malmesbury Primary School for promoting STEM inclusion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from the need to address diversity issues within the STEM sector.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help increase diversity and inclusion in the STEM workforce?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

The science and technology framework sets out our commitment to expanding STEM opportunities to the most diverse range of people possible. We have acted swiftly to identify and dismantle any barriers to entry, leading to major improvements in recent years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or strategies were not detailed

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Q2 Paulette Hamilton Lab Birmingham Erdington
Education Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

Today is National Numeracy Day, prompting a discussion on the skills gap faced by disadvantaged communities.

Question

What is the Minister doing to ensure that people in constituencies like mine are not locked out of jobs in STEM by a skills gap that does not recognise the disadvantages they face?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

While we must not be complacent, the Government have made outstanding progress on equality for all. The hon. Lady should join me in congratulating teachers on the fact that last year, under this Government, girls made up 52% of all science entries at A-level.

Not addressed: The skills gap and numeracy challenge were not directly addressed

How: Congratulating Teachers On Progress

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Q3 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Education Employment
Context

The Institute of Cancer Research's apprenticeship scheme is noted as a positive initiative for increasing representation.

Question

Can the Minister say what, if any, lessons he is taking from that very positive initiative, in particular to increase representation in respect of ethnic diversity?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

I congratulate the Institute of Cancer Research on that progress. I would be delighted to meet the institute and hear what development it is making, as would my hon. Friends. This Government have increased the number of apprenticeships. Unfortunately, under the Opposition's proposals the number of apprenticeships would halve.

Not addressed: Discussion on learning from Institute initiatives was avoided

How: Increase In Apprenticeships

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Q4 James Gray Con
Science & Technology
Context

Sir James Dyson has given £6 million to a primary school and established a STEM college, aiming for inclusivity.

Question

Inclusion and diversity in STEM will be greatly increased and helped by the £6 million that Sir James Dyson has recently given to Malmesbury Primary School in my constituency, as well as by the STEM college he has locally. He has made it plain that it is available to all and that he intends to make sure that everyone in the town of Malmesbury and the surrounding area benefits from it.

Answer from Andrew Griffith

I commend my hon. Friend and Sir James Dyson for that initiative. It would be wonderful to see many more such initiatives across the whole country. My colleagues and I would be delighted to work with any philanthropists seeking to do something similar.

Not addressed: No specific support or actions were mentioned

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Q5 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The Secretary of State's commitment to diversity is questioned due to the lack of equality impact assessments in key strategies.

Question

Given that only 16% of practising engineers are women, it is like trying to play premiership football with half our players barred from the pitch. Can the Minister explain why not one of his major science strategies—the life sciences vision, the national AI strategy, and the UK science and technology framework—features an equality impact assessment?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

As the hon. Lady well knows, diversity, STEM education and skills are at the heart of the UK science and technology framework, and we will be publishing skills frameworks for each of its priority areas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No explanation provided for lack of equality impact assessments

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