Committees

Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up (2023)

Inquiry

This inquiry was originally conducted during the 2019 Parliament and was interrupted by the 2024 general election. In November 2024 the re-established committee agreed to complete the inquiry.

In 2021, the Defence Sub-Committee, chaired by Sarah Atherton MP, conducted an inquiry into Women in the Armed Forces and female veterans. It published a detailed report in July 2021, which made a series of recommendations to improve the experiences of servicewomen and female veterans, focusing on all stages of a servicewoman’s career, from recruitment through to transition to civilian life. In November 2022, the Committee held a follow-up session with the MoD regarding progress on matters raised in the Report.

In May 2023, the Committee published anonymous whistleblower evidence from MoD medics who revealed unacceptable behaviour towards female servicewomen and poor handling of complaints. The Committee followed this up by writing to the Minister with a series of questions in July 2023.

As with the initial inquiry in 2021, serving personnel are authorised by the Ministry of Defence to send written evidence. All requests for anonymity will be respected by the Committee – anonymous submitters will not have their name in the public domain.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Wednesday 25 October 2023.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 18 March 2025
10:30am Public
Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up (2023) - Oral evidence 18 March 2025
10:30am
  • Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Veterans and People) at Ministry of Defence)
  • Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE (The First Sea Lord at Ministry of Defence)
  • General Sir Roly Walker KCB DSO (The Chief of the General Staff at Ministry of Defence)
  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard John Knighton KCB ADC FREng (The Chief of the Air Staff at Ministry of Defence)
  • Sam des Forges (Director of Conduct, Equity and Justice at Ministry of Defence)
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 14 November 2023
10:30am Public
Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up (2023) - Oral evidence 14 November 2023
10:30am
  • Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families at Ministry of Defence)
  • Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE (First Sea Lord at Ministry of Defence)
  • Air Marshal Paul Lloyd (Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Ministry of Defence)
  • Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith (Deputy Chief of the General Staff at Ministry of Defence)
  • Sam des Forges (Director of Conduct, Equity and Justice at Ministry of Defence)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

  • Email: defcom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3113 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 2996 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Defence Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA