§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are currently included in his Department's public appointments list; and how many of these are women.
§ Mr. LangThe number of people currently on the Scottish Office public appointments list is constantly changing. At present there are in the region of 2,500 people on the list of whom some 880 or 36 per cent. are women. Until recently, the proportion of women on the list averaged 25 per cent. The higher proportion is a result of action taken by my Department to increase the number of women on the list. I am always happy to receive the names of people based in Scotland, of either sex, who are interested in undertaking public appointments work.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to how many and which organisations he is able to make appointments; and what are the top salary levels of these appointments.
§ Mr. LangThe nationalised industries, non-departmental public bodies and NHS bodies sponsored by the Scottish Office to which I make appointments are listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". The information includes the number of appointments I make to each body and the remuneration where appropriate. The 1992 edition is available in the Libraries of the House and the 1993 edition is scheduled to be published in mid-December.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a document, similar to the one recently published by the Secretary of State for Wales, entitled "Public Bodies: Appointments Made by the Secretary of State for Wales", listing detailed information concerning appointments made by him to public bodies in terms of(a) appointments, (b) remuneration, (c) occupations of appointees and (d) time commitment.
§ Mr. LangA list of members of bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" whom I appoint is being updated. I am considering how the information might most conveniently be made available.