§ 15. Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what greater roles he expects women to play in the services in the light of the declining pool of available young men eligible to join up.
§ Mr. FreemanIt has been the policy of successive Governments that women in the armed forces should not be employed in direct combat roles. However, women are being increasingly employed in technical roles, as well as in support and administrative areas where they have traditionally been employed. We intend to expand these opportunities wherever practicable.
§ Mr. MansI welcome my hon. Friend's reply. Will he give further consideration to allowing women to train as pilots?
§ Mr. FreemanNo, Sir. We have no plans to use women in combat, at least in the military sense.