§ Mr. VazTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mrs. Ballard) of 4 February 1998,Official Report, column 703, on public appointments, what progress has been made by the public appointments unit towards increasing the proportion of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds who are appointed to public bodies. [30174]
§ Dr. David ClarkThe Public Appointments Unit is keen to maintain the progress which has already been achieved, with 3.6% of appointments being held by members of the ethnic minorities in 1997 compared with 2% in 1992.
The Unit actively promotes equal opportunities in public appointments through its various programmes of work, which have included a series of regional seminars to encourage more members of the ethnic minorities to participate in public life.
The Unit is currently drawing together individual Departmental plans designed to increase the representation of women and members of the ethnic minorities on public bodies. The plans will cover the period 1998–2001 and will be made publicly available.