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Consultation on mandatory quotas for public boards.

Mandatory quotas to ensure at least 40 per cent of public boards are made up of women could bridge the gender gap and create more effective boards, Equalities Minister Shona Robison has said.

Speaking ahead of today’s debate on Women in Scotland, Ms Robison revealed the Scottish Government is launching a consultation on the issue of women’s representation and gathering views on how we could best use the power to legislate to address this imbalance, if required. Currently this power sits with the UK Government.

The consultation, which is set to launch in April will ask whether mandatory quotas are essential for public boards, and if potential legislation should be extended to corporate boards and third sector organisations.

Ms Robison said:

“Although we have much to celebrate with the advances we have made to recognise and promote women’s issues, it’s clear that even in this day and age we still have gender inequality on our public boards.

“A board needs to reflect the people it serves and this in turn will make it better equipped to deal with decision making and improve its performance.

“Our ambition is for Scotland’s public and corporate institutions to properly reflect the communities they serve, which we know will contribute to moving us towards the Scotland we wish to see.

“In April will be looking for views on whether mandatory quotas that ensure a minimum of 40 per cent of women’s representation should be introduced.

“The results of that consultation will help make our case to the Westminster Government that Scotland should have responsibility for these issues. Following independence these powers will come to Scotland and we will not have to rely on Westminster’s agreement.

“It is the right of every women - whatever her age, wherever stage they are in their lives, that they should be able to fulfil their potential in the labour market and in their wider life.

“Scottish women make up 52 per cent of our population. They clearly have a voice to be heard and we will do all that we can to make sure this happens by driving forward this consultation on legislation.”

Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance will give the opening speech on behalf of the Scottish Government at today’s debate.

Ms Constance added:

“There are more women in Scotland in work today than at any time since the current records began in 1992 with women represented in every sector and level in the labour market. Our people are our greatest asset and this Government is committed to supporting women across Scotland to unleash their economic potential in work and in growing their own businesses.

“This week we published the ‘Women in Enterprise’ framework for action, which has taken into account views from the public, private and third sectors. Backed by £85,000, new enterprise ambassadors will be created and guidelines to tackle the gender gap in business are now in place. Mandatory board quotas will further assist women in fulfilling their potential.”

Notes to editors

The Scottish Government does not have legislative powers in this area and as part of moving forward has opened up dialogue with the UK Government about transferring powers under section 30 of the Scotland Act.

Such powers would give the Scottish Parliament additional levers for change, should it choose to use them where other mechanisms are not working or are not changing things fast enough.

Given the support for movement on this issue in Parliament we will look to further explore with those with an interest in this issue, the legislative options that could be open to us if we had the powers.

The UK Government has asked for details from Scottish Government as to how they would use increased devolved powers to implement quotas. From the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012, the Scottish Government has worked closely with STUC, and drawn up an action plan based on the feedback and recommendations from the Summit. This includes a consultation which will demonstrate the strength of feeling and commitment within Scotland to driving forward equality for women.

The female employment level increased by a record 61,000 over the year to reach a record high of 1,233,000 women in employment.

In Aug-Oct 2013, the level of female employment in Scotland reached its highest level since the series began in 1992. The female employment rate in Scotland remains the highest of any UK nation, and inactivity rate the lowest.