HC Deb 05 March 1973 vol 852 cc13-4
12. Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it the policy of his administration to increase the numbers of women appointed to public boards so that greater account is taken of the consumer interest which women can represent.

Sir G. Howe

It is the Government's general policy to appoint to public bodies those people who are best qualified and available to serve; there is no sex discrimination whatever in making such appointments. The nationalised industries have associated consumer councils to represent the consumer interest. These already contain a significant proportion of women members, but I am anxious to see that proportion increased.

Mrs. Fisher

I thank the Minister for that reply, but I hope that he does not expect me to believe it because the figures do not support his answer. If he studies the matter carefully, he will see that there are many able women who live outside the capital. When making further appointments, will he ensure that he considers the worthwhile contributions to be made by women who live in the provinces?

Sir G. Howe

The range of bodies in respect of which I have responsibility for making appointments is, of course, limited, but the hon. Lady will know that on several occasions in our debates on the Fair Trading Bill I have stressed my personal concern that women of all kinds and from every part of the country should be available and should be sought out to serve increasingly, particularly on consumer councils and consumer representative bodies. I am willing to consider any suggestions and applications beyond and outside the ranks of those who normally come from the nominations and consultative system. I am as anxious as is the hon. Lady to do what I can in this respect.

Dame Irene Ward

I am grateful for the Minister's answer but it was a bit negative. Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that I have written to the Prime Minister, giving names, and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, giving names, and to the Minister for Transport Industries, giving names? I am tired of waiting for a woman to be appointed to the board of British Railways. In view of what he has said, perhaps my right hon. and learned Friend will now collect all my letters from the various Ministers and Secretaries of State and go through them. I hope he will ensure that women occupy top positions, not merely serve as members of consumer councils, important though those councils are. I hope he will get on with it before I get annoyed.

Sir G. Howe

I hasten to respond to my hon. Friend while she is in a genial rather than an annoyed mood. I shall certainly follow up her suggestions for retrieving her letters and I emphasise the extent to which I share her concern.

Dame Irene Ward

Thank you.

Mr. Bishop

Is the Minister aware that on the boards of public bodies there are about one and a half women for every 100 men? Although I would not quarrel with his assessment of the ability of the women of his own party, most people will consider his reply a real slur on the abilities of many women who have much to offer the country, abilities that the country needs. Will he review the situation with his colleagues to see that far more women are appointed?

Sir G. Howe

I fail to understand the hon. Gentleman's suggestion that my reply is a real slur. I have written and spoken many times on this matter on the same lines as the hon. Gentleman. The difficulty of securing an adequate representation of women on non-consultative public boards is that it depends on the extent to which they have been able to achieve success in industrial, commercial and financial careers, which in turn depends on persuading more women to take up careers in those professions than traditionally have done so hitherto, and that entails persuading more girls leaving school to choose such careers. I am in favour of all those things.