Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to tackle the under-representation of women in senior positions in universities, including in the position of Vice Chancellor.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous from Government and Ministers are statutorily prohibited from involvement in HEIs recruitment decisions.

I commend the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education’s Aurora programme for developing future women leaders in higher education. I also commend the Equality Challenge Unit’s Athena Swan Programme which recognises the advancement of gender equality in HE through representation, progression and success for all.