Lords ask: is UK digital sector ‘too male'?
On Tuesday 4 November the House of Lords Digital Skills Committee will ask witnesses whether the IT sector is seen as a ‘geeky boys club'.
The Committee is investigating information and communications technology, and next week it will examine issues of inclusion, and also look closely at how the digital competitiveness of the UK compares to Europe and the international stage more broadly. Last week the Committee was shown an example of high performance computers using cutting edge technology on a visit to the Hartree Centre in Warrington.
In Tuesday's sessions, the Committee will hear from influential women on their views of the IT sector, and then from the European Commission and OECD, on the issue of global digital competitiveness.
At 10:15am the Committee will quiz Professor Dame Wendy Hall, Director, Web Science Institute, University of Southampton, and Baroness Shields, Digital Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Questions they will face include:
- Is there a perception that the IT sector is ‘geeky' and a ‘boys club'?
- Is there a danger that the UK could slip in terms of global competitiveness because of a lack of women in the sector and the time it takes for people to become work ready?
- Where should the Government focus its efforts in order to grow the UK's economy and support the digital sector?
- How can we ‘future-proof' the UK's economy?
Then at 11:15am the witnesses giving evidence will be Megan Richards, Principal Adviser, DG CONNECT, European Commission and Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills & Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General, OECD, via video link.
Questions they will face include:
- How have countries across Europe enabled the digital sector to flourish?
- Europe is accused of having ‘gone from digital leader to digital laggard' in less than a decade. How can we change this?
- Where are the world's leading tech clusters?
- What are the best ways of developing and maintaining a skilled population?
The first evidence session will take place in Committee Room 2 on Tuesday 4 November, starting at approximately 10:15am, with the second starting at approximately 11:15am.
Please note the second witness to give evidence at 11:15 will do so via video link.
The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
