§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been(a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94854]
§ Janet AndersonThe Cabinet Office is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's initiative on equal opportunities and public appointments, so I therefore refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 682.
This Government are committed to the equal representation of women and men in public appointments. A plan of action has been drawn up, which includes individual departmental plans for increasing the participation of women in public life. Details of individual Departments' plans are given in "Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments, 1999–2002", published by the Cabinet Office on 25 May 1999. Copies are in the Libraries of the House and on the Internet. The plans 782W contain specific goals and objectives for increasing the representation of women on the boards of public bodies, and are updated annually in the light of progress made.