§ 27. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on equal opportunities for professional women in appointments to senior positions in(a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [163459]
§ Ms HewittThis Government are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for professional women in appointments to senior positions. The precise figures asked for are not available but since 1999 the number of women directors of a FTSE 100 company has increased from 6 per cent. to 9 per cent. In public appointments 36 per cent. of posts are held by women, an increase of 4 per cent. from 1998; and in the Civil Service, women hold 23 per cent. of the 600 top posts compared with 13 per cent. in 1998.