HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc129-30W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is proposed as a result of the report "Gendered Bodies, Personnel Policies and the Culture of the British Army". [97343]

Angela Watkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the study undertaken for the Ministry of Defence to identify sexism in the army; who undertook the survey; what methodology was used; how many people were consulted and of what gender; and for what purpose the results of the survey will be used. [97175]

Dr. Moonie

The study into gender and culture in the contemporary British Army, "Gendered Bodies, Personnel Policies and the Culture of the British Army", is an independent report, completed at the University of Newcastle, into employment practices and policies within the Army.

The research was not commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, but was completed with the full cooperation of the Army and part-funded under the Joint Grant Scheme that encourages research relevant to the Department's long-term research programme.

To date, the Army and Ministry of Defence have examined a summary of the report. The full report will be examined closely in due course but there is no specific action intended as a result of this study at this time.

The Department certainly will not ignore the report's findings and, from what has been gleaned from the report summary so far, in many respects is moving in the direction suggested in the way women are recognised and treated.

The report's originators have agreed that I can place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

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