To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the measures in place to raise awareness of public appointment opportunities amongst women and members of other under-represented groups, as a step towards encouraging these groups to apply.

We recognise that some sections of our society, including women, are under-represented on the boards of public bodies. We are committed to achieving greater diversity in public appointments, consistent with the overall principle of selection on merit, as a means of ensuring effective public bodies.

OFMDFM officials, in conjunction with other departments, are working to encourage greater participation from these groups and have put in place measures to raise awareness of public appointment opportunities amongst under-represented groups. This is an important step in encouraging a wider range of applications.

Steps being taken include:

the establishment of an inter-departmental public appointments forum to share best practice across departments including increasing diversity;

independent advice provided to the public appointments forum by a senior academic with considerable experience in equality and diversity issues;

producing the twice-yearly All Aboard publication which gives details of public appointment opportunities arising over the next six months;

circulating upcoming appointment opportunities to an extensive mailing list of several hundred individuals and organisations, including private and voluntary sector women’s groups;

departments to interview larger numbers of applicants for appointments;

information sessions held with stakeholders and interested groups, including women’s groups, to raise awareness of public appointments and explain the process;

posts on public bodies are filled to address specific skills, in order to build effective teams; and

departments are developing alternatives to established criteria such as better use of presentations, in order to encourage more applications.

Work is also ongoing to improve the baseline information available on public appointments, and to identify and address the barriers preventing people from applying for positions.