HC Deb 11 June 1992 vol 209 cc252-3W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to increase the number of women in the Cabinet.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister considers all the excellent candidates available on merit at the appropriate times.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the actions he intends to take to promote the interests of women.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently set up a new ministerial sub-committee on women's issues to review and develop the Government's policy and strategy on issues of special concern to women. The committee will be chaired by the Secretary of State for Employment, who now has overall responsibility for co-ordinating women's issues within Government. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also appointed Baroness Denton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms, as Government co-chair of the Women's National Commission which will continue to represent the concerns of women to the Government.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the measures being taken to increase the number of women in the upper levels of the civil service.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

Appointements and promotions at all levels in the civil service are made on the basis of merit, qualifications and suitability for the job. Under a new programme for action to achieve quality of opportunity for women in the civil service, launched in March this year, Departments and agencies are developing and implementing action plans tailored to their own needs. The plans aim at improving the quality and quantity of women's opportunities at senior and all other levels.