Recruit More Mum Spies, MPs Tell Secret Service

The Secret Service should start recruiting through Mumsnet to attract more women to senior posts, MPs have said.

A report by the Intelligence and Security Committee found women at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ were being held back by a "traditional male mentality and outlook" middle management, who were referred to by some as "the permafrost".

While 37% of the workforce across the agencies is female – only 19% of senior roles were taken by women.

MI5 has had two female director-generals - Stella Rimington from 1992 to 1996 and Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002 to 2007 - but neither MI6 nor GCHQ has ever been run by a woman.

The MPs have called for a number of changes in the next year to redress the balance including providing more help for women who have children to stop them from being sidelined, giving careers advice, changing the culture and using sites like Mumsnet to recruit talent.

Labour's Hazel Blears, who sits on the ISC, said: "Changing the culture is the one area that is most difficult to articulate and, crucially, to take action on, but if you want change, that is where to start.

"It is clear to us there are those at middle management level - referred to by some people as 'the permafrost' - who have a very traditional male mentality and outlook.

"This can reinforce a management culture which rewards those who speak the loudest or are aggressive in pursuing their career and does not fully recognise the value of a more consultative, collaborative approach.”

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright carried out a similar investigation into women in the CIA.

She said: "As Ms Blears rightly says diversity should be pursued - not just on legal or ethical grounds, important as these are in their own right – but because it will result in a better response to the range of threats that threaten national security.

"Much of what is said in this report echoes and reinforces my own work on the director's advisory group on women in Intelligence at the CIA.

"I am sure we will all benefit from close cooperation on these vital issues between our two countries."