HL Deb 28 July 1997 vol 582 c12WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take steps to increase the number of women appointed to chair public bodies in light of the findings of the Commissioner for Public Appointments that, for the period 1 July 1996 to 31 March 1997, three men and no women were appointed in the salary band £50,000 or more; 17 men and two women were appointed in the salary band £20,000–£49,999; and 135 men and 38 women were appointed in the salary band £10,000–£19,999.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Public appointments are governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit and are the responsibility of individual Ministers and their departments. However, all departments encourage women to apply for appointments and are committed to fair selection procedures. The Public Appointments Unit in the Cabinet Office (OPS) co-ordinates programmes designed to promote equal opportunities in public appointments.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that vacancies for appointment or re-appointment to offices within public bodies are publicly advertised wherever possible so as to promote the principles of openness, transparency and equal opportunity.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

It is now normal practice for paid appointments to executive NDPBs and NHS bodies to be publicly advertised. This is in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Guidance on Appointments to Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies and NHS Bodies which became mandatory for Departments on 1 July 1996. Both single and generic advertisements (i.e. those inviting applicants for appointments on a number or all of a sponsor Department's public bodies) are being used.