HL Deb 26 February 1997 vol 578 cc93-4WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer given by Lord Henley on 9 December (WA 76–77), which set out the qualifications for appointment to the Equal Opportunities Commission, whether, in the light of the fact that there are only three men out of a total of 13 commissioners, they will institute an enquiry into whether the appointments board itself is discriminating against male applicants, or alternatively request the Equal Opportunities Commission itself to institute a study into why so few men possess the qualities necessary for appointment to the commission.

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Lord Henley)

Appointments to the Equal Opportunities Commission are made by the Secretary of State. Since July 1996, she has done so on the basis of comments from an interview panel following the recommendations of the Nolan Committee.

Four of the present commissioners are men.

Since 1994, five of the 13 new appointees to the commission have been men. For the most recent round of appointments, some 470 applications were received in response to newspaper advertisements, of which 230 were from men and 240 from women. Of the four appointments announced on 23 January 1997, two were men.

In the light of these figures and current procedures, the Government do not believe there is a need to take the further action proposed by the noble Lord.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer given by Lord Henley on 9 December (WA 77–78) whether, in the interests of equality, they will now ask the Equal Opportunities Commission to consider whether the Women's National Commission should be abolished.

Lord Henley

No. The Women's National Commission was established in 1969 in recognition that women were seriously under-represented in places where decisions are made. The position has improved to some extent since then, but I know the Equal Opportunities Commission would agree with the Government and the Women's National Commission that full equality between women and men has not yet been achieved. Both organisations have their distinct part to play.