By: SairahMasud
A DIVERSITY action plan that commits to increased representation by ethnic minorities and women in public appointments by 2022 was launched this morning (14).
There are proposals to see that half of public appointees should be women and 14 per cent should be from ethnic minorities, similar to the demographics of the wider population.
A mentoring programme and developing an “inclusive boards charter” are part of the proposals announced by minister for the constitution, Chris Skidmore.
He said: “We need diverse ideas and perspectives at the helm of our public bodies, so it is vital that public appointees truly reflect the society they serve.”
In 2016-17, women accounted for 49 per cent of the proportion of new public appointments, up from 34 per cent in 2013-14.
Skidmore said: “I am heartened by the increase in women being appointed to public boards but there’s more we need to do across all aspects of diversity.”
Commissioner for public appointments Peter Riddell CBE said he welcomed the “ambitious targets as an important sign of the government’s commitment to delivering greater diversity but cautioned that “success will require a sustained will on the part of Ministers, departments and public bodies.”
[TheChamp-Sharing]
