Women: Representation

Baroness Hussein-Ece Excerpts

Tuesday 8th March 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that question. We are waiting for the results of the physiological study before we give a full response but I am certainly happy to acknowledge that we have 15,550 women in the Armed Forces, who do a fantastic job serving our country.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece]

My Lords, it is very clear now that more women than ever are needed in post-conflict peacebuilding. Can the Minister say how much progress we are making with Diplomatic Service heads of mission in this country? Are efforts being made to attract more young women to enter the service and to crack the glass ceiling in areas such as the FCO? It is said that diplomacy is a man’s world—could she please tell us otherwise?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

I am not sure that it would be very diplomatic of me to say one way or the other whether women or men are better at diplomacy so I will sit on the fence on that one. But I absolutely agree with the noble Baroness that we want to encourage more women, both into our Diplomatic Service and across public services. Since 1996, the percentage of women in the senior Civil Service has more than doubled, with women now representing more than 40% of those employed at that level—but I agree that we must do more.