 subsequently accepted had discriminated against white men. Addressing an audience at the Royal United Services Institute, Admiral Sir Ben said on Wednesday he was concerned that women's careers could be held back in the Navy because for example they could become pregnant, preventing them serving on submarines. He also said that he did not know what the 'natural proportion' should be for the gender breakdown of personnel in the Navy. When asked about the Navy's progress in achieving the MoD's '30 by 30' target, Admiral Sir Ben said: 'I'm choosing my words really carefully because I always get nervous when we start setting targets because targets can lead to some strange behaviours. 'What we actually have to do is to create a completely inclusive and open environment where people want to give them the best of themselves at work because they feel acknowledged, supported, invested and recognised for their contribution.' 'Being pregnant is not compatible with being in a submarine' He said he could see no reason why men and women could not rise through the ranks 'at the same speed' but said there were 'difficulties and challenges' in carrying that out in practice. Admiral Sir Ben, 57, who took up the post two years ago, went on: 'Choosing my words very carefully, only half the population can actually have a baby. Having a baby is not compatible or being pregnant… is){kind=link}
As the MoD aims for 30 per cent of armed forces new recruits to be women by 2030, Admiral Sir Ben Key says he feels ‘nervous’ about targets
The head of the navy has said that the military’s own diversity targets ‘can lead to some strange behaviours’.
Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, admitted he felt ‘nervous’ about targets despite the Ministry of Defence’s goal of ensuring 30 per cent of the armed forces new recruits’ are women by 2030.
The ’30 by 30′ policy, first set in 2021 by the former defence secretary Ben Wallace, threatens to cause controversy.
Earlier this summer, the head of the RAF apologised ‘unreservedly’ for a related diversity drive to recruit more women and people from ethnic backgrounds that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) subsequently accepted had discriminated against white men.