To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information his Department holds on numbers of people resident in Northern Ireland who have (a) applied for and (b) been appointed by Ministers to posts in UK-wide non-departmental bodies in each of the last three years. (259726)

[holding answer 27 February 2009]: This information is not held by Government. The Government are, however, committed to promoting diversity in public appointments and ensuring that people from all parts of the UK have an equal opportunity to serve on the boards of UK public bodies.