§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Minister for Women what recent assessment has been made of the participation of black and minority ethnic women in public life. [146257]
§ Jacqui SmithThe latest assessment (March 2001) showed minority ethnic women held only 2 per cent. of all national and regional public appointments. The Cabinet Office is developing a Public Bodies and Public Appointments database that will include information on diversity. This will underpin information that is held by individual Departments. To mark Black History Month in October 2003 my officials in the Women and Equality Unit produced a fact sheet, available on their website which gives more information about Minority Ethnic Women in Public Life.