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Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life

Inquiry

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

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life
Inquiry Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
HC 154
Report
Response to this report
Fourth Special Report - Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report
HC 904
Special Report
Fourth Special Report - Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report
Inquiry Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
HC 904
Special Report
Letter, dated 11 July 2023, from Sarah Atherton MP to the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, relating to Women in the Armed Forces follow-up
Work Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up (2022) (Non-inquiry session), and Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life (Inquiry)
HC 726
Correspondence
Letter to the Director of Service Prosecutions and the Director of Public Prosecutions, relating to the consultation on concurrent jurisdiction
Work Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up (2022) (Non-inquiry session), and Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life (Inquiry)
Correspondence
Letter dated 17th November from the Secretary of State for Defence to Chairs responding to correspondence on Women in the Armed Forces
Inquiry Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

View all oral evidence transcripts
27 April 2021
Inquiry Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
Witnesses Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence, and Baroness Goldie, Minister of State
Oral Evidence
18 March 2021
Inquiry Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
Witnesses Centre for Military Justice (CMJ), Nicola Williams, former Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces, Justice4Troops, and Bolt Burdon Kemp
Oral Evidence
4 March 2021
Inquiry Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
Witnesses Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Diane Allen, Salute Her, RAF Families Federation, and Naval Families Federation
Oral Evidence
Ministry of Defence (WAF0080)
Anonymous (WAF0067)
Anonymous (WAF0037)

Other publications

No other publications published.

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