The Government is committed to equal representation
of women and men on our public bodies, and is taking action to encourage
more women to participate in public life.
-
As at
March 2007, women currently hold 34.4% of public appointments
overall, an increase from 32% in 19971.
-
Women are well represented at local level
e.g. 49.7% of magistrates2, 44% of NHS Trust positions3 and 54% of
school governors4.
-
Of the women who currently hold national public appointments,
5.7% of these are
from ethnic minority backgrounds and 4.9% are held by disabled
women5.
-
Of the 23 members of the Cabinet,
6 are
women - 26.1% of the total6.
-
There are 125 women MPs - 19.4%
of the total7. This was an increase from before the
1997 when 9% of MPs were women.
-
In Scotland 34.1% of MSPs are women8.
-
46.7% of the Welsh Assembly are women9.
-
Women now make up 19.7% of the House of Lords10.
-
Women represent
25.6% of the UK members of the European Parliament (MEPs)11.
-
In England
just over a quarter of local councillors are women (29.3%), 4.1% of
these are from ethnic minority backgrounds12.
1 Public Bodies 2007
2 Ministry of Justice -
www.judiciary.gov.uk/keyfacts/statistics/index.htm
3 NHS Appointments
Commission Annual Report and Account 2005/6
4 Education Network/DfES Report
"Do the Right Thing" 2003
5 Public Bodies 2006 -
Civilservice.gov.uk/documents/doc/public_bodies/public_bodies_2007
6
www.number10.gov.uk
7
www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/hmg.cfm
8
www.scottish.parliament.uk
9
www.dodonline.co.uk
-
www.europarl,europa.eu/members.do?language=EN
10
www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/analysis_by_composition.cfm
11
www.dodonline.co.uk
12 National Census of Local Authority
Councillors in England 2006 -
www.nfer.ac.uk/research-areas/pims-data/summaries/national-cencus-of-local-authority-councillors-2006.cfm
Public
Appointments Political
Life
|
