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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the deployment of women in the armed forces in front-line combat; and what plans he has to review that policy. [75305] Mr. Doug Henderson: [holding answer 10 March 1999]: The Armed Forces' position on the employment of women is quite clear; service-women are excluded from posts only where their presence would be to the detriment of combat effectiveness or on the ground of health and safety. 96 per cent. of posts in the RAF and 73 per cent. of posts in the Naval Service have been open to women for some time, but recently, as the result of a further review, 1,300 specialist posts, filled by Royal Navy and Army personnel attached to the Royal Marines, were opened to women. On 1 April 1998, the Army increased the posts open to women from 47 per cent. to 70 per cent. The remaining posts closed to women will remain closed until we can properly assess the impact on combat effectiveness of the recent changes; this work will be completed in two to three years. Following recent studies by the Royal Navy, I announced on 24 February 1999, Official Report, columns 300-01, that women will remain excluded from service in submarines and mine clearance diving for the present time.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

327 c804-5W;327 c804W; 75305

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Armed forces Army Deployment Bomb disposal Women Landmines Policy Navy Submarines Marines

Contains statistics

Yes