House of Lords: Gender Equality

Debate between Baroness Evans of Bowes Park and Baroness Scott of Needham Market

Thursday 6th June 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Needham Market (LD)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) (Con)]

My Lords, we will hear from the Liberal Democrats and then we will hear from the noble Lord.

[Baroness Scott of Needham Market]

My Lords, I remind the House that I am a member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. I am grateful that the noble Lord has highlighted that since 2012 we have appointed seven women and five men, but is he aware that only 27.8% of the applicants to HOLAC are female? There is a real problem with women coming forward. Does he agree that we all have a role to play in encouraging suitably qualified women to put their names forward not just to HOLAC but to all public bodies, and can he remind the House how the Government are doing against their target of 50% female appointments to public bodies?