House of Lords
6 March 2026
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Chamber House of Lords
01:37 - 03:30
Speaker 30
My lords, motion, for debate International Women's Day, Baroness Lloyd of Ephra. Hear. My lords, it's a pleasure to be opening today's International Women's Day debate on behalf of the government. As my noble lords all know, the theme of this year's International Women's Day is give to gain. This day is about celebrating the power of solidarity and camaraderie.
It's about adhering to the words proclaimed by Millicent Fawcett, the same words inscribed on her statue in Parliament Square, just a stone's throw away from here. Courage calls to courage everywhere. It's about recognizing that when women thrive, we all rise. And I believe this is that is true of this place. Both chambers are of very different composition to the ones I knew in the nineteen nineties when I first started working in Westminster.
Back then, around 10% of the seats in the other place were held by women. Last year, that figure stood at roughly 40%. We've seen a similarly positive trend in this house. Female membership has steadily risen from below 10% in the early nineties to over 30% today, and I'm looking forward to hearing the maiden speeches at the debate today from my noble friends, Baroness Linforth, Baroness MacLeod of Camusdarach, Baroness Martin of Brockley, Baroness Nargand, and Baroness Paul of Shepherds Bush. And I'm proud to serve in a government where the positions of the chancellor, home secretary, and foreign secretary are all occupied by brilliant women Hear.
As are the secretaries of state for Wales, science, and culture. So our representation has changed for the better. Our economy has changed for the better too. Top British companies are leading the way for gender equality in boardrooms. Women occupy over 43% of roles on the FTSE three fifty boards as of last year, and our society has changed for the better.
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