§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made on the joint strategy with the public appointments unit to ensure that women are more involved in public bodies. [25731]
§ Ms RuddockWe are working with the Public Appointments Unit in Cabinet Office on the issue of public appointments with the aim of raising the proportion of women appointed to public bodies from its current level of 32 per cent.
As part of this the Public Appointments Unit has asked all Departments to draw up individual plans for the increased representation of women on public bodies. These plans will include specific targets for the period 1998–2001.
We will meet in February to jointly scrutinise the plans and agree further action to be taken.