§ Jackie BallardTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many and what percentage of the (i) paid and150W (ii) unpaid appointments which she has made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were women. [39399]
§ Mrs. BeckettOf the appointments and re-appointments I have made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997:
- (i) 31 were women to positions which received some remuneration (24.4% of remunerated appointments);
and- (ii) 32 were women to unpaid positions (18.8% of unpaid appointments).
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.