Royal Navy: Conduct towards Women Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Royal Navy: Conduct towards Women

Margaret Ferrier Excerpts
Monday 31st October 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Murrison Portrait Dr Murrison
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I agree with the hon. Gentleman; there is no question about that. I speak specifically about defence, of course, but what he says goes for society more generally, too.

Margaret Ferrier Portrait Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)
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What will Ministers do to ensure that no female officer brave enough to come forward and report abuse will experience professional discrimination, such as having promotion opportunities withheld from them?

Andrew Murrison Portrait Dr Murrison
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I hope that I explained in my previous remarks the importance that Defence assigns to this, particularly when it comes to senior officers who may be complicit in some of the behaviour that we are discussing. This is very important: if someone’s career is on the line, it does affect their thinking fairly dramatically. I would also commend to the hon. Member the victim and witness care unit that will be established by December for the most serious offences, which will give people much-needed support that was previously lacking.