CABINET OFFICE News
Release (CAB/082/07) issued by The Government News Network on 8
October 2007
'MORE MUST BE
DONE TO WIDEN THE POOL OF APPLICANTS' - JANET GAYMER
"More work needs to be done to widen the pool of applicants
for posts on public bodies in England." Public Appointments
Commissioner, Janet Gaymer said today.
Publishing her annual report for 2006-7, Janet Gaymer said:
"There has been encouraging progress in some areas -
appointments of candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds and
those declaring a disability have both shown an increase but I am
disappointed that there has been a further fall in the number of
women appointed to the Boards of Public Bodies. I am also very
conscious that the majority of those appointed to the Boards of
our Public Bodies are aged over 46 and above.
"It is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that the
Boards of these bodies which govern so much of our daily lives
better reflect the population they serve."
Mrs Gaymer continued:
"Last year I set up a working group to consider the issue of
age in relation to public appointments. The results of the work
carried out by that group are due to be made public in November
and will then form a key plank of a new diversity strategy which I
shall be putting in place. I want to look at how people are made
aware of appointments and the barriers that stop them applying for
and being appointed to these posts.
"The work of those appointed to public bodies contributes
greatly to the life of our nation. This work is varied, often
demanding but fulfilling. The need to ensure that the very best
individuals are appointed to our public bodies has never been
greater but these individuals need to be selected on merit from
the widest possible pool of potential candidates. As Commissioner,
I shall do all I can to ensure that this need is met. "
The OCPA annual report contains a range of statistics and
information about appointments and re-appointments in 2006-7 to
bodies within the Commissioner's remit. The report shows that:
* the percentage of appointees and reappointees who declared a
disability has increased to 6.1 per cent. This figure has
increased from 4.4 per cent in the previous year and is the fourth
year showing a successive rise.
* 9.2 per cent were from an ethnic minority background - an
increase from 8.6 per cent in 2005-6.
* the proportion of women appointed and reappointed has fallen
from 36.6 per cent in 2005-06 to 36.2 per cent in 2006-07.
* there has been an increase in those declaring political
activity from 13.3 per cent in 2005-06 to 15.8 per cent in 2006-07.
The OCPA annual report is available at http://www.ocpa.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
1. Copies of the annual report are
available from http://www.ocpa.gov.uk or by
calling 0207 276 2625.
3. Janet Gaymer CBE was appointed as the new Commissioner for
Public Appointments in January 2006.
4. The Commissioner's role is to regulate, report and to
promote equal opportunities in relation to public appointments
processes within the Commissioner's remit.
Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments
3rd Floor,
35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ
Telephone: 020 7276
2625 Facsimile: 020 7276 2633
Email: ocpa@gtnet.gov.uk Web
site: http://www.ocpa.gov.uk