§ Miss Lestorasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Women's Consultative Council and its future, having regard to the current interest in women's contribution to national life.
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§ The Prime MinisterThe Women's Consultative Council is a Government-sponsored body representative of women's national organisations. It is concerned mainly with important social issues including of course those which particularly affect women. The co-chairmen are at present my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General and the President of the National Council of Women of Great Britain. At my request the Council have been asked to consider the extent of its own scope and functions, with the aim of ensuring that the informed opinion of women is given its due weight in the deliberations of Government and in public debate, and in this context it will take account of the interest of the United Nations in the possible establishment of national Commissions on the Status of Women. The Council have appointed a working party to consider these matters. The valuable contribution being made by other bodies in related fields will naturally be of vital interest in this study.