Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to appointments of new members to England's National Park Authorities and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Boards in July 2020, what proportion of (a) applicants, (b) interviewees, (c) candidates shortlisted for the Secretary of State’s consideration and (d) appointees had (i) had skills and experience in nature conservation, (ii) were female, (iii) were under 65, (iv) identified as members of a black, Asian or minority ethnicity and (v) considered themselves disabled.
186 applications were received for the 18 National Park Authorities and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Board public appointments made in July 2020. The candidate field is summarised in the table below.
Percentage with characteristic | Applicants % | Interviewees % | Candidates shortlisted for the Secretary of State’s consideration % | Appointees % |
Skills and experience in nature conservation | 16% | 26% | 27% | 28% |
Female | 37% | 48% | 50% | 50% |
Under 65 | 74% | 75% | 88% | 83% |
Identified as a black, Asian or minority ethnicity (BAME) | 3% | * | * | 0% |
Declared a disability | 6% | 8% | * | * |
* Where the numbers are less than five, data is withheld, since with small numbers individuals could be identified. This is in line with the Data Protection Act 2018. Applicants that identified as BAME and declared a disability were shortlisted for the Secretary of State’s consideration. No BAME candidates were appointed.