§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many non-departmental public bodies there are; what percentage of appointments to these bodies are held by(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities; and when the annual list of such bodies will be published. [8816]
§ Mr. FreemanThese figures are set out in the Cabinet Office—OPS—booklet "Public Bodies 1996", which is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. I am pleased to say that on 1 April 1996 there were 1,194 non-departmental public bodies—a fall of 33, or 2.7 per cent. since 1995, and of 973, or.45 per cent. since 1979. As of 1 September 1996, 31 per cent. of appointments to these bodies were held by women and 3.3 per cent. by members of the ethnic minorities; both of these are increases on the relevant figures for the previous year. This shows the success of the Government's policies of increasing equality of opportunity in public life, while at the same time reducing the size of the public sector overall.