James Cartlidge

James Cartlidge

Conservative — South Suffolk

Speaking in the House of Commons on 8 September 2025

Debate

Topical Questions

Contribution

I totally agree, but is that not why we should be concerned that the contract for the new armed forces recruitment service “includes Annual Mandated Performance Indicators focused on enhancing equality and diversity within the workforce”? Those are to be annually mandated in the contract. My concern is that hardwiring the requirements into the contract risks distorting recruitment if the targets are not hit; we saw that with the RAF. Would it not be better to simply scrap the red tape altogether and focus solely on getting the best people into the armed forces, irrespective of their background?

More from James Cartlidge

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For James Cartlidge's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the James Cartlidge report card.