HC Deb 12 May 2004 vol 421 cc434-6W
Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many FTSE 250 companies have recruited at least one non-executive director from the not-for-profit sector. [172383]

Jacqui Smith

This information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the change in proportion of non-executive directors of FTSE 250 companies following the publication of the Tyson Report. [172384]

Jacqui Smith

As recommended by the Tyson Report, the Department commissioned a study by Cranfield University on the diversity of all directors in FTSE 100 companies. This report has now been presented to my Department. In addition, I have participated in a series of roundtables hosted by leading businesses which debated the issues surrounding diversity in the boardroom in an open and constructive manner. We are currently consulting the Financial Reporting Council and a range of business and other organizations on how best to build on these initiatives and will be making an announcement later in the year.

Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has for promoting a register of talented candidates from the not-for-profit sector for consideration for non-executive director posts, as recommended in the Higgs Report. [172390]

Jacqui Smith

The Higgs Review made a number of recommendations to stimulate the inclusion of a more diverse range of people on company boards. These were taken forward by the Tyson Group, which decided against developing a list of candidates from the non-commercial sector.

The Government welcome the creation of registers of suitably skilled people, across a range of sectors, to assist companies in identifying potential candidates for non-executive board positions. Such registers should be co-ordinated by the relevant professional or affiliated body.

Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many FTSE 250 companies publish their recruitment procedures for non-executive directors; and what plans she has to encourage such publication. [172391]

Jacqui Smith

This information is not collected centrally. This is a matter for companies and their shareholders and is a provision of the Financial Reporting Council's Combined Code. The provision applies on a comply or explain basis to all listed companies, and for all board appointments, and came into effect for reporting years beginning on or after 1 November 2003.

Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to provide a deadline by which FTSE 250 companies should publish their recruitment procedures for non-executive directors. [172392]

Jacqui Smith

This is a matter for companies and their shareholders and is a provision of the Financial Reporting Council's Combined Code. The provision applies on a comply or explain basis to all listed companies, and for all board appointments, and came into effect for reporting years beginning on or after 1 November 2003.