Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of women appointed to the Defence Board.

As per the guidelines set out in the corporate governance in central government departments: code of good practice, April 2017, we make every effort to ensure a diverse board membership. Up until November 2023, there were three female members on the Defence Board.

When appointing Non-Executive Members to the Defence Board, we encourage candidates that will not only provide external expertise but will also enhance the diversity of the board. As regulated posts, these are managed in consultation with the Cabinet Office and approved by No 10.