Councillors

HC Deb 17 March 1976 vol 907 c564W

50. Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will produce his report on the attendance allowance for councillors.

Mr. John Silkin

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Dr. Marshall).

Mr. Baker

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of elected councillors are women; and whether his Department keeps records of these numbers over recent years.

Mr. Oakes

The Department has not found it necessary over past years to keep detailed records of the number of elected councillors who are women. However, a brief study based on existing published information suggests that the proportion of women members of principal councils in England and Wales is currently of the order of 17 per cent.