Corporate Boards (Diversity)

Debate between Michelle Donelan and Anna Soubry

Wednesday 28th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Anna Soubry]

I was just thinking that you would love to attend that, Mr Speaker. I would love to attend as well, so we will see whether that can be arranged.

[Michelle Donelan]

While assessing the solutions, does the Minister agree that quotas are demeaning and do not foster the necessary culture of diversity?

[Anna Soubry]

I absolutely agree. I do not like quotas or targets, but that does not mean that I do not like ambitions—there is an important subtlety in that word. That is why I had no difficulty with some of the great campaigns to get more women into this place or on to boards. I have no difficulty with a hard drive behind ambition, but I absolutely would not go down the route of having strict legal quotas.