This inquiry will explore the experience of female service personnel from recruitment to transition and consider whether there are unique challenges that are not adequately addressed by the current policies and services.
Challenges that the inquiry will explore, include:
- Recruitment and retention of female personnel;
- Incidences where female serving personnel are the victim of sexual offences;
- Overrepresentation in the complaints system;
- Female personnel are more likely to make bullying and harassment complaints;
- Female personnel are more likely to be assessed with a mental health disorder; and
- Transition to civilian life, where female service leavers have a lower employment rate and a higher economic inactivity rate.
Other areas of interest that the Committee are keen to cover within the scope of the inquiry include issues around pensions, terms and conditions of employment, housing and general wellbeing.
The Committee plans to hold a public evidence session in November 2022 with a Minister from the Ministry of Defence, to assess the Government’s progress on the recommendations of the Women in the Armed Forces inquiry report.
To inform this session, we are launching a short call for written evidence, to find out more about relevant changes in the Armed Forces over the last year. The Committee is especially interested to hear from organisations with links to multiple service personnel and veterans, such as families’ federations and NGOs. Call for Evidence - Committees - UK Parliament