Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Women in Tech Taskforce 2026-07-01

Wednesday 1 July 2026 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The women in tech taskforce is addressing barriers preventing women's advancement in the tech sector, set to publish call for evidence results the following week.
  • The Government aims to encourage more women to join the tech sector through initiatives like the tech first girls programme for young teenagers.
  • The Minister believes showcasing the results of women's contributions to tech is more effective than setting quotas, citing higher returns from women-led ventures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Johanna Baxter Lab Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Economy Business & Trade Women & Equalities
Context

The question addresses the potential impact of the women in tech taskforce on levels of diversity in the technology sector, referencing a £3.5 billion annual loss due to gender barriers.

Question

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the women in tech taskforce on levels of diversity in the technology sector? Our economy loses around £3.5 billion annually because women leave or change jobs within the tech sector due to barriers that should not exist. This impacts both women and the tech sector, which misses out on skills and talent.

Answer from Liz Kendall

Our economy loses £3.5 billion annually due to barriers preventing women's advancement in tech, impacting both women and the sector's potential. The women in tech taskforce is addressing these systematic barriers by publishing call for evidence results next week, launching a new tech first girls programme for 12 and 13 year olds, providing minimum six-month placements for career advancement, and ensuring Government Departments help software developers return to work after an absence of up to 18 months.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not directly address the assessment requested but provides context on the taskforce's initiatives.

How: Discussing Broader Impact Without Direct Assessment

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Q2 Johanna Baxter Lab Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

Evidence suggests AI tools used in recruitment often favour male names almost five times more than female names, and AI models built to prevent liver disease are twice as likely to miss the disease in women. The question seeks Government plans to address these biases while encouraging more women to join the tech sector.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that unless we have women shaping this technology, it will continue not to deliver for women? Can she outline Government plans to address those biases while encouraging more women in Paisley and Renfrewshire South to join the sector?

Answer from Liz Kendall

My hon. Friend is correct that bias highlights the need for more women building technology. We want more women in tech, which is why we launched the women in tech taskforce and will publish its call for evidence results next week. We are launching a new tech first girls programme for 12 and 13 year olds and providing minimum six-month placements to advance women's careers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not directly address the specific Government plans asked about AI biases but provides details on initiatives for female participation in tech.

How: Discussing Broader Initiatives Without Addressing Ai Bias

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The question builds on the previous discussion about encouraging more women to enter tech roles and asks if setting a quota might persuade companies to take further action.

Question

Does the Minister think that it is time to set a quota for companies? Some companies already set aside places for ladies, but a quota could be a stronger measure. This would encourage many companies to go the extra mile.

Answer from Liz Kendall

I think showing results from women's contributions is most effective. Women founders get only 2p in every £1 of venture capital funding but present 35% higher returns on average. Companies should aim for better science and tech by getting more women involved.

Not addressed: The response does not address the question about setting quotas directly, instead discussing benefits of having more women in tech roles.

How: Discussing Broader Impacts Without Addressing Quota Proposal

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