§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is aware that seven men and one woman served as members of the British European Airways Corporation according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(2) if he is aware that eight men and no women served as members of the National Coal Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(3) if he is aware that 21 men and no women served as members of the Electricity Council according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that 17W women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(4) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the Central Electricity Generating Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(5) if he is aware that 103 men and two women served as members of the 12 Area Electricity Boards according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(6) if he is aware that 17 men and no women served as members of the Gas Council according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(7) if he is aware that 93 men and only one woman served as members of the 12 Area Gas Boards according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(8) if he is aware that 11 men and no women served as members of the British Steel Corporation according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(9) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority according to the List of Members of 18W Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;
(10) if he is aware that six men and no women served as members of the British Airports Authority according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); and what changes have taken place since;
(11) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the British Overseas Airways Corporation according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Cmnd. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes.
§ Mr. John DaviesI am aware of the number of men and women serving on the public boards for which I am responsible. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Civil Service notified the hon. Member on 16th December of the changes that had taken place since 1st January, 1971, and the next issue of the White Paper on Public Boards shortly to be published will show the position as at 1st January, 1972. The Government's policy in selecting people for public appointments is to choose the man or woman best qualified for the appointment, irrespective of any other consideration, and I shall continue to implement this policy in making appointments within my field of responsibility.