Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he his taking to encourage more women to become commandos.

The Royal Navy (RN) is actively working to encourage more women to pursue careers as Commandos. Female Royal Marine/Commando candidates benefit from tailored support, including mentorship from women who have been through the Commando process. Those in the recruitment pipeline are also invited to attend female-specific briefings and webinars.

In addition, the RN offers Commando Force opportunities to women in non-Commando roles, helping to prepare them for future Commando training should they choose to pursue it. As a further demonstration of our commitment to supporting female Commandos, Victoria Pendleton has been appointed as an Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines.