Written question asked by Simon Kirby (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 December 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 December 2010. It was answered by Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 on behalf of the Women and Equalities.

Politics: Females

Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what her policy is on measures to increase the number of women in political life.

Answer: This Government recognises that increasing the number of women in politics has a real and constructive effect on the quality of decision making and is committed to tackling the barriers preventing women and under-represented groups from participating in political life.The Equality Act 2010 includes a range of positive action provisions that allow political parties to take steps to encourage involvement amongst women and other underrepresented groups. These include extending the period that they can use women-only shortlists until 2030. The general positive action provisions will also enable political parties to create dedicated committees or groups, exclusively for women and broader shadowing, internship and mentoring opportunities for women.Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 also makes it possible to require registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections at a particular election and we are currently considering how this will be taken forward.The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing a cross-party Committee, which is discussing proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber. The Committee is considering how a reformed second chamber could more closely reflect the diversity of the society it serves.

Secondary information