§ Baroness Howe of Idlicoteasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the overall 2005 target for disabled members of public bodies; and which government department is (a) nearest and (b) furthest from achieving these goals. [HLI026]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe Government's aim is that there should be increased participation of disabled people in public appointments. Statistics on disabled people holding public appointments show that since 2001, when statistics were first collected, there has been an increase in the representation of disabled people on the boards of public bodies from at least 1.5 per cent in 2001, to at least 3.1 per cent in 2003.
Information abut the progress made by individual departments is provided in Delivering Diversity in Public Appointments 2003 published on 17 December 2003, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.