§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of the (i) paid and (ii) unpaid appointments which she has made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were women. [39395]
187W
§ Mr. Paul Murphy[holding answer 29 April 1998]The following appointments have been made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997:
Total Female appointments Percentage Paid appointments 222 87 39 Unpaid appointments 461 138 30 The Government are committed to increasing the representation of women in public life. In support of this, an action plan is being drawn up in NI for increasing the number of women and ethnic minorities holding public appointments.