§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of the (i) paid and (ii) unpaid appointments which he has made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were women. [39397]
§ Angela EagleThe Secretary of State has made 180 paid and 153 unpaid appointments to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 of which 39 (22%) and 27 (18%) respectively are held by women.
The Government are committed to increasing the representation of women in public life. In support of this, my Department is currently drawing up an action plan for increasing the number of women and ethnic minorities holding public appointments.