§ 1. Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received regarding the development of sex equality within his Department and generally within Wales.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Edwards)I have received no recent representations. However, my Department is implementing a programme of action agreed with the Council of Civil Service Unions in response to the recommendations of the joint review group on employment opportunities for women in the Civil Service. More generally, my Department has kept in touch with the Equal Opportunities Commission over several years about the appointment of women to public bodies in Wales.
§ Mr. ThomasIs it not time for the Secretary of State to start within his Department and with his own nominations? He told me only recently in the House that 31 out of the total of 206 persons appointed by himself to serve on public bodies were women. What does he intend to do to ensure equality of representation on public bodies in Wales?
§ Mr. EdwardsI seek to find as many people as I can to fill the needs of those public bodies. I should welcome more women putting their names forward so that we can consider them. I have appointed women to a number of important public bodies in Wales and shall continue to do so, but it is not always as easy as one would like to find as wide a cross-section of people as one needs for the particular appointments.
§ Mrs. ClwydDoes the Secretary of State agree that thousands of women have been denied training opportunities in Wales because the Government have refused to publicise a section of the EEC social fund, as they believe that it discriminates against men?
§ Mr. EdwardsI do not believe that that allegation is true. The Government have rightly pursued vigorously a policy of treating women on a basis of absolute equality. I repeat that it is our objective to see as many women as possible employed in public bodies for which I am responsible in Wales.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesDoes the Secretary of State appreciate that the overall impact of the Government's economic policies on the people of Wales, particularly women, has had a dramatic effect? The public sector, particularly the NHS, education and social services, and indeed the private sector in terms of small industries, have been hardest hit, and those are the areas which traditionally have provided employment opportunities for women. Will the Secretary of State now look at the impact of his policies on Wales and, if necessary, seek Cabinet approval for a change in those policies?
§ Mr. EdwardsThe percentage increase in the number of unemployed women has risen only a little more than the increase in the number of unemployed men. It would riot be right to change policies which are already producing the considerable upturn in economic activity, which is evidenced by the survey published only today by the CBI.