§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which posts in(a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy women are excluded; what percentage of overall service posts this represents; and if he will make a statement. [97667]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 8 November 1999]: The three Services are wholly committed to maximising career opportunities for women in the Armed Forces. 73 per cent. of posts in the Naval Service, 70 per cent. of posts in the Army and 96 per cent. of posts in the RAF are open to women. In the Naval Service women are excluded from the Royal Marine Commandos; in the Army posts in the Infantry and Royal Armoured Corps (including the Household Cavalry) are closed to women; and in the RAF women cannot serve in the RAF Regiment. Additionally in the Royal Navy, women cannot serve in submarines or as mine clearance divers for medical reasons.