To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of the (i) paid and (ii) unpaid appointments which she has made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were women. [39395]

[holding answer 29 April 1998]: The following appointments have been made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997:

	Total	Female appointments	Percentage
Paid appointments	222	87	39
Unpaid appointments	461	138	30

The Government are committed to increasing the representation of women in public life. In support of this, an action plan is being drawn up in NI for increasing the number of women and ethnic minorities holding public appointments.