Oral Answers to Questions

Vicky Foxcroft Excerpts

Wednesday 27th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Chloe Smith]

Mr Speaker, I think the simplest answer is that the Boundary Commission will return with its proposals shortly and the House will have the pleasure of looking at them.

[Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking to widen access to senior public appointments.

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

13. What steps he is taking to widen access to senior public appointments.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Oliver Dowden)]

We want to ensure that public boards represent the people they serve. That is why in December we launched our diversity action plan, which committed to 50% women and 14% ethnic minority representation by 2020. Just last month, I appointed Lord Christopher Holmes to undertake a review of removing barriers that disabled people might face when applying for public appointments.

[Vicky Foxcroft]

What proportion of appointments made to public bodies are people from working-class backgrounds and what proportion went to private school?

[Oliver Dowden]

The hon. Lady raises a very important point about our making sure that public appointments reflect the country as a whole. That is why we have taken a number of measures to increase diversity based on the Bridge report recommendations.