§ Joyce QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made by the Department towards the aim in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of encouraging applicants to public bodies from all parts of England; and what change there has been in the geographical diversity of appointees to NDPBs and other public bodies sponsored by the Department since the publication of the White Paper. [108565]
§ Mr. CabornDCMS undertakes a variety of activities to encourage a wider diversity of applicants for public appointments, including those from all parts of England. This includes advertising in the national press, articles in selected publications, advertising of all vacancies on our own website (www.culture.gov.uk), the new public appointments website (www.publicapptsvacs.gov.uk) and the Just Do Something site (www.justdosomething.net) run by Common Purpose. We also participated in the regional public appointments seminars organised by the Women and Equality Unit during 2002.
There has been little change in the geographical profile of people appointed to DCMS public bodies since the publication of Your Region, Your Choice in 18W May last year. However, recent restructuring of several of our strategic bodies supports the aim set out in the White Paper to reflect the needs of individual regions in developing national policies and programmes. For example, we have created regional representation on Arts Council England and Sport England through the appointment of regional Board Chairs to their Councils, and recognised the role of Regional Development Agencies in restructuring support for tourism.