§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of the(a) paid and (b) unpaid appointments which he has made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were women. [129854]
§ Mr. RookerThe Government are committed to increasing the representation of women in public life. In support of this, the Department has drawn up an action plan for increasing the number of women and ethnic minorities holding public appointments. The latest plans, together with the Government's overall plan, were published on 24 May 2000 in "Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments 2000–03", copies of which are in the Library.
547WSince 1 May 1997, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made a total of 57 paid appointments, including reappointments, of which 40 per cent. were women.
Number of paid appointments Number of unpaid appointments Name of non-departmental public body Male Female Male Female Central Advisory Committee on War Pension — — 5 4 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board 7 10 — — Industrial Injuries Advisory Council 11 2 — — Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority 5 4 — — Social Security Advisory Committee 8 6 — — War Pensions Committees — — 106 43 Pensions Compensation Board 2 1 — — Pensions Ombudsman 1 — — — Total 34 23 111 47