§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the interests of equity and good equal opportunities practice and reported evidence of increasing discrimination against men, they will re-constitute the Equal Opportunities Commission to provide that it has an equal number of men and women and that its chairmanship and vice-chairmanship rotate annually between a man and a woman.
§ Lord HenleyThe Government have no plans to reconstitute the Equal Opportunities Commission or to alter its procedures as regards chairmanship in order artificially to introduce a different gender mix.
§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What method of appointment to the Equal Opportunities Commission has resulted in 10 women and three men being appointed to the commission.
§ Lord HenleyMembers of the Equal Opportunities Commission are appointed according to the usual procedures and criteria for appointment of members of non-departmental public bodies, which have recently been updated. The criteria for fitness to be a commissioner include interests, knowledge and relevant experience. The chairman and latest deputy chairman were appointed as a result of open competition for the posts. The other commissioners were appointed following full consultation with appropriate bodies.