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Written Question
Defence: Equality
Monday 16th June 2025

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what individual diversity networks, and trade union diversity networks, are recognised by the Ministry of Defence and each of the Armed Forces.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises a comprehensive range of diversity networks which are listed below.

In addition, the MOD recognises five main Trade Unions, (Prospect, PCS, FDA, GMB and Unite). The MOD’s Trade Unions have Diversity and Inclusion networks aimed at supporting their members however the MOD does not recognise nor engage directly with those networks.

Race Networks

  • MOD Race Network
  • Army Multicultural Network
  • RAF Ethnic Minorities Network
  • Royal Navy Commonwealth Network
  • MDP REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Network
  • MOD Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women’s network
  • Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Race Network
  • Defence Fiji Support Network
  • Defence African and Caribbean Network
  • Royal Navy Race Diversity Network
  • Armed Forces Hong Kong Network
  • DE&S Race and Culture Network

Disability and Carers Networks

  • MOD Defence Disability and Carers Network (DDCN)
  • Chronic Conditions and Disabilities in Defence (CanDiD) Tri-Service Network
  • Defence Epilepsy Network
  • Defence Dyslexia Network
  • Defence Stammering Network
  • Defence Visual Network
  • DE&S Disability Network
  • MOD Neuro-Inclusivity Network
  • DE&S Fibromyalgia and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (FME) Network
  • DE&S Cancer Network
  • DIO Disability Network
  • London Disability Network
  • Defence Medical Services Disability Network
  • Royal Navy Infinite Network
  • Royal Navy Enabled Network
  • Defence Hearing and Visions Network
  • RAF Disability & Carers Network
  • MDP Disability & Wellbeing Network – DAWN
  • MOD Fibromyalgia and ME Network
  • Defence Digital Accessibility Network
  • UKStratCom Disability Network

Gender Networks

  • MOD Women’s Inclusive Network
  • MOD Gender Network
  • MOD Menopause Network
  • Defence Women’s Network
  • Army Servicewomen’s Network
  • Navy Servicewomen’s Network
  • RAF Gender Network
  • MDP Gender Network
  • DIO Gender Forum

LGBT Networks

  • shOUT MOD Civilian LGBT+ Network
  • Army LGBT+ Network
  • Navy Compass Network
  • RAF LGBTQ+ Network
  • MDP LGBT+ Network
  • MOD Pride Network
  • DE&S Pride Network
  • DIO LGBT+ Network
  • Strat Comm Intelligence Corps LGBT+ Network

Families Networks

  • Tri-Service Couples Network
  • Army Parents Network
  • RAF Parents Network
  • Defence Breastfeeding Network
  • Defence Fertility Network
  • Defence Child Bereavement Network
  • Royal Navy Parents Network
  • MOD Flexible Working Network

Faith and Belief Networks

  • Defence Buddhist Network
  • Defence Christian Network
  • Defence Civilian Muslim Network
  • DE&S Christian Network
  • Defence Hindu Network
  • Defence Pagan Network
  • Defence Rastafari Network
  • Defence Sikh Network
  • Humanist and Non-Religious in Defence (HAND)
  • Armed Forces Jewish Community
  • Armed Forces Muslim Association
  • DIO Faith & Belief Forum
  • The Defence Secular Society
  • MOD Vegan and Vegetarian Network

Social Mobility Networks

  • RAF Social Mobility Network
  • DIO Social Mobility Network
  • DE&S Social Mobility Network
  • Defence Commercial Social Mobility Network
  • UKSC Social Mobility Network

Wellbeing and Support

  • DE&S Time to Change Network
  • Defence Mental Health Network
  • RAF Mental Health Network
  • RAF Diversity Allies Network
  • Veterans in Defence Network
  • Defence Next Generation Network
  • DE&S Volunteers Network
  • DBS Diversity & Inclusion Networks
  • DIO STEM Network
  • DNO Diversity & Inclusion Network
  • MOD Fast Stream Network
  • Defence Domestic Abuse Survivor Community & Awareness Network (DDASCAN)
Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Equality
Thursday 26th September 2024

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Ministry of Defence are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; which networks are being funded; and whether they have any plans alter such funding.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Information is not held concerning the number of staff, both civilian and military, who are permitted to undertake diversity related network time, nor the percentage of overall working time or total hours they are permitted to spend on such network activity.

We align with Government guidance in supporting Civil Service staff in engaging in Network duties. The Armed Forces who form the vast majority of the workforce do not receive any facilitated time and carry out Network duties in their own time, as do many of our Civil Servants.

All staff networks working in support of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) outcomes are eligible to apply for funding in accordance with Government Guidance on ED&I expenditure dated 14 May 2024.

Until the Government Guidance on ED&I expenditure dated is superseded, this policy will be applied to all applications for network funding.