Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 2 March (HL5545), whether the female candidate did not meet the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions; and what account the Secretary of State took of her gender and ethnic background.

Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out the advertised job descriptions. The government is committed to ensuring diversity within public appointments. The Cabinet Office aspiration is for 50% of new appointments made by each Government Department to go to female candidates, and 10% to candidates from a BAME background. This target is also contained within the DCMS Departmental Plan, and, in the first three quarters of 2016/17, 56% of new DCMS appointments went to women and 16% to BAME candidates.