§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92522]
§ Mr. MealeThe Secretary of State made the following appointments to NDPBs, nationalised industries and public corporations sponsored by the Department:
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1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 Chairman Members Total Male 12 179 191 Female 1 54 55 Total 13 233 246 Ethnic Minority 1 15 16
1 April 1998 to 31 March 1998 Chairman Members Total Male 21 335 356 Female 5 159 164 Total 26 494 520 Ethnic Minority 0 23 23 Full details of the Department's plan on equal opportunities are contained in "Quangos, Opening Up Public Appointments 1999–2002", published by the Government on 25 May 1999, a copy of which is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. This sets out
Test centre 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Leicester (Gypsy Lane) 7,527 8,031 8,797 5,084 5,590 Leicester (Welford Road) 3,039 3,352 3,331 2,323 2,690 Leicester (Wigston) 5,328 5,646 6,443 5,491 5,196 Loughborough 4,132 4,196 4,309 3,586 3,600 Melton Mowbray 2,052 2,196 2,198 1,910 1,907 Hinckley 2,415 2,224 2,405 1,940 2,228 The Driving Standards Agency keeps its test centre estate under constant review to ensure that centres can provide tests of a satisfactory standard while maintaining acceptable local levels of service in a cost effective manner. There are no plans at present to close any of the centres in Leicestershire.