§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Minister for Women what initiatives she has planned during the next year and what budget has been proposed to attract more women into public appointments; and if she will make a statement. [99044]
§ Ms HewittWe have a target that between 45 per cent. and 55 per cent. of all appointments made will be women. Advertisements for vacancies arising during the year will be disseminated widely including in the national and regional press, in professional journals, trade press and women's magazines, and on the Department's website, to ensure the widest possible audience. We will also be using the practical guide 'Get a Public Life', recently produced by the Women and Equality Unit, to develop ways of encouraging more women to apply for public appointments.
The Women's National Commission have committed £15,000 to continuing the e-network. This provided details of national appointments and a mentoring scheme aimed at encouraging more women to apply for national appointments.
The Women and Equality Unit are due to publish research that will identify the barriers and possible solutions that can be fed into future government policy in the spring of this year. The cost of this research in the next financial year will be £7,000.