§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of his Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40749]
§ Dr. David ClarkThe appointments to non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department include appointments made by the Prime Minister, and myself. In addition, I also make appointments for a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Central Office of Information, which is a Department in its own right and which reports directly to me.
None of the appointees to my Department's non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 or (iii) aged 31 to 35 years.
445WThe Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates to apply for positions on the boards of public bodies, reflecting the diverse society in which we live. This includes encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointments. All appointments are made on merit, and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.