§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that his Department has complied with article 63(b) of the 1975 world plan of action for the United Nations Decade for Women.
§ Mr. LeeYes. Although no specific instructions have been issued on this matter in the armed forces, since none are needed, my right hon. Friend has appointed a departmental opportunities officer, who is responsible for ensuring equal opportunity for women, in accordance with the programme of action on women in the Civil Service announced by the Government on 9 February 1984.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to promote, as far as it affects matters within his responsibilities, policies designed to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women; and what budget he has allocated to this.
§ Mr. LeeIn keeping with the principal objectives of the UN Decade for Women, the contribution made by women in the services to the overall effectiveness of the armed forces has, over recent years, been steadily increasing; we expect this trend to continue. However, there are no plans to alter the one major constraint, that women are not used in combatant roles.
Promoting equal opportunities for women civil servants in the Department and eliminating unfair discrimination are an integral part of the personnel policy of the MOD. A number of initiatives have been taken within the Department to implement this policy, but it is not possible to identify the costs involved separately.