HL Deb 14 October 2002 vol 639 cc41-2WA
Baroness Howe of Idlicote

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 24 September (WA 236) expressing the Government's total commitment to increasing diversity at all levels: of appointment, including those at chair and deputy chair, whether they will now set targets (or require targets to be set) for the number of women who will be chairs or chief executives of those public bodies for which government departments are responsible. [HL5853]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

There are no plans at the present time for the Government to set a specific target for the number of women who will be chairs or chief executives of public bodies. However, the Government are continuing to look for increased diversity in all public appointments and that, of course, means more women holding both chair and chief executive positions.