§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Prime Minister whether she has received a copy of the report on women and public bodies by the Equal Opportunities Commission; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime Minister:I welcome the two reports recently issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission and hope that initiatives taken by this Government and the Equal Opportunities Commission to encourage more women to allow their names to go forward for appointment to public bodies will lead to faster progress being made.
Departmental Ministers, to whom the reports have also been copied, are considering the statistics relating to the bodies to which they make appointments and will be responding directly to the commission. My noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal is in touch with the Equal Opportunities Commission to discuss issues raised in the reports and to consider possible improvements.