§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of his Department's410W appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40738]
§ Mr. SpellarOf the Department's current appointees to its non-departmental public bodies, the number in the categories specified are: (i) aged under 25—nil, (ii) aged 25–30—nil, and (iii) aged 31–35 years—two, representing 0.6 per cent. of total appointees. The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates to apply for positions on the boards of public bodies, reflecting the diverse society in which we live. This includes encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointments. All appointments are made on merit, and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.