HC Deb 20 March 1972 vol 833 cc220-3W
Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report lists setting out the average price of the principal commodities produced by the nationalised industries from 1964–65 to the present time in respect of coal, the pithead proceeds per ton, gas, the revenue in pence per therm, and electricity in revenue pence per kWh.

Mr. Ridley

The details are set out below:

electricity board consultative councils and by each of the 12 area gas board consultative councils, respectively; and what action he proposes.

Mr. Ridley

The information about the district committees appointed by the Electricity and Gas Consultative Councils is as follows:

MEMBERSHIP OF DISTRICT COMMITTEES OF THE ELECTRICITY CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS
Area Men Women Total
London 48 20 68
South Eastern 33 16 49
Southern 10 2 12
South western 25 8 33
Eastern 52 10 62
East Midlands 55 12 67
Midlands 63 12 75
South Wales 57 8 65
Merseyside and North Wales 68 11 79
Yorkshire 49 5 54
North Eastern 27 6 33
North Western 76 15 91
563 125 688

MEMBERSHIP OF DISTRICT COMMITTEES OF THE GAS CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS
Area Men Women Total
Scottish 56 21 77
Northern 48 16 64
North Western 50 16 66
North Eastern 41 17 58
East Midlands 36 20 56
West Midlands 72 14 86
Wales 147 49 196
Eastern 43 5 48
North Thames 34 10 44
South Eastern 34 33 67
Southern 43 9 52
South Western 60 23 83
664 233 897

I propose to take no action, since these are not my appointments.

Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report the numbers and sex of the members of each of the 12 area electricity board consultative councils, and of the 12 area gas boards consultative councils, respectively; and whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made.

Mr. John Davies

The information is as follows:

MEMBERSHIP OF GAS CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS
Area Men Women Total
Scottish 21 5 26
Northern 17 8 25
North Western 21 5 26
North Eastern 21 6 27
East Midlands 21 6 27
West Midlands 22 5 27
Wales 22 5 27
Eastern 21 8 29
North Thames 18 8 26
South Eastern 17 13 30
Southern 20 9 29
South Western 23 6 29
244 84 328

MEMBERSHIP OF ELECTRICITY CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS
Area Men Women Total
London 23 5 28
South Eastern 23 4 27
Southern 23 6 29
South Western 24 3 27
Eastern 19 4 23
East Midlands 26 2 28
Midlands 26 3 29
South Wales 24 3 27
Merseyside and North Wales 24 4 28
Yorkshire 21 4 25
North Eastern 21 5 26
North Western 22 3 25
276 46 322

The Government's policy for selecting people for public appointments is to choose the man or woman best qualified for the appointment, irrespective of any other considerations, and I shall continue to implement this policy in making appointments within my field of responsibility.

Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is aware that 12 men and no women serve as members of the National Research Development Corporation; 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 11 men and no women serve as members of the British Export Board; 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 16 men and no women serve as members of the Air Registration Board; whether he intends that 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 12 men and no women serve as members of the Monopolies Commission; 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 13 men and one woman serve as members of the Metrication Board; 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 nine men and no women serve as members of the British Tourist Authority; 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 four men and no women serve as members of the National Film Finance Corporation; 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 10 men and no women serve as members of the National Computing Centre; 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 Davies

I am aware of the number of men and women serving on the various public boards for which I am responsible. In selecting people for such public appointments I shall continue to follow the Government's policy of choosing the man or woman best qualified for the post irrespective of any other considerations.

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