As an independent statutory body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act 2010, the EHRC is able to make its own decisions to intervene if it suspects that an unlawful act has been committed. It has the power to take enforcement action in relation to a breach of the Act’s provisions, including the provisions that cover appointment to public office.

Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. The selection panel are responsible for interviewing candidates and identifying those who are appointable. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience and the Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they best met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out the advertised job descriptions. The government is committed to ensuring diversity within public appointments. The Cabinet Office aspiration is for 50% of new appointments made by each Government Department to go to female candidates, and 10% to candidates from a BAME background. This target is also contained within the DCMS Departmental Plan, and, in the first three quarters of 2016/17, 56% of new DCMS appointments went to women and 16% to BAME candidates.

The Cabinet Office Centre for Public Appointments, which works across Whitehall, as well as with the private sector and different stakeholder groups, has modernised recruitment practices and attracted a more diverse field of candidates from an ever-wider range of social and professional backgrounds by:

· Placing an emphasis on ability, rather than prior experience, ensuring key roles in public bodies are open to those with skills required

· Increasing awareness of public appointments through a central online advertising website, events and social media

· Simplifying the application process to just require a CV and cover letter

· Assessing every job advert to ensure they are fit for purpose and are open to a wider number of applicants to ensure a diverse pool of candidates.

In 2013 the Government published its strategy for Increasing Diversity in Public Appointments. The Cabinet Office will be publishing an update to this strategy later this year.

Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

The government is committed to ensuring diversity within public appointments. The Cabinet Office aspiration is for 50% of new appointments made by each Government Department to go to female candidates, and 10% to candidates from a BAME background. This target is also contained within the DCMS Departmental Plan, and, in the first three quarters of 2016/17, 56% of new DCMS appointments went to women and 16% to BAME candidates.

The Government recognises that judges from a Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) background are under-represented in the judiciary in England and Wales when compared with the general population. We are committed to continue working with the judiciary and all others concerned to make sure that, while appointments will always be made on merit, the pool of candidates is as diverse as possible.

On average over the last 5 years, 11 per cent of candidates recommended for judicial appointment were from BAME groups. Meanwhile, 10 per cent of appointed judges aged over 50 were from BAME backgrounds on 1 April 2015.

The Government is committed to working with other members of the Judicial Diversity Forum, including the Judicial Appointments Commission, the judiciary and the legal professions, to explore ways of increasing the percentage of judges from under-represented groups, including individuals from a BAME background, whilst continuing to safeguard the fundamental principle of appointment on merit. The Forum is considering the feasibility of proposals around pre-application training. The Government fully supports such work and is strongly committed to the judicial diversity agenda.

The Government is committed to improving judicial diversity and co-ordinates this effort through the Judicial Diversity Forum, a cross-stakeholder group with representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), the judiciary and legal profession.

The Judicial Diversity Forum replaced the Judicial Diversity Taskforce in 2014 as the body responsible for encouraging judicial diversity; it has implemented a number of schemes to help improve judicial diversity. Recent examples include the 100 plus Diversity and Community Relations Judges doing invaluable work with the community to expel myths about working for the judiciary and interact with schools, universities and the legal professions. There is also a Judicial Mentoring Scheme where judges volunteer to be mentors; providing invaluable advice and guidance to those from under-represented groups seeking a judicial appointment or those wishing to progress in their judicial career.

Data on judicial appointments are published regularly on gov.uk. The below figures show how many candidates were recommended by the JAC for judicial appointment in each of the past six years and how many of those were (1) from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, (2) women and (3) disabled. As these figures are JAC recommendations, they may include a small number of candidates that do not go on to be appointed.

• 2010- 759 candidates were recommended out of which 75 (10%) were from BAME, 309 (41%) were women and 41 (5%) were disabled.
• 2011- 894 candidates were recommended out of which 91 (10%) were from BAME backgrounds, 406 (45%) were women and 34 (4%) were disabled.
• 2012- 371 candidates were recommended out of which 48 (13%) were from BAME backgrounds, 152 (41%) were women and 22 (6%) were disabled.
• 2013- 572 candidates were recommended out of which 38 (7%) were from BAME backgrounds, 303 (53%) were women and 81 (14%) were disabled.
• 2014- 312 candidates were recommended out of which 40 (13%) were from BAME backgrounds, 134 (43%) were women and 11 (4%) were disabled.
• 2015- 319 candidates were recommended out of which 28 (9%) were from BAME backgrounds, 143 (45%) were women and 10 (3%) were disabled.

The Government acknowledges that within the judiciary there is an under-representation of women, those who are disabled and those from a BAME background. However, recent statistics show some improvement which suggests ongoing diversity initiatives, co-ordinated by the Forum, are beginning to have an impact:

1) 12% of judges across Courts and Tribunals under 50 years of age are from a BAME background (around 14% of the UK population are from BAME groups).

2) JAC Official Statistics from April 2015 to March 2016 showed women made up 45% of those recommended for appointment overall (140 of 308 recommendations).

The Government is committed to improving judicial diversity and co-ordinates this effort through the Judicial Diversity Forum, a cross-stakeholder group with representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), the judiciary and legal profession.

The Judicial Diversity Forum replaced the Judicial Diversity Taskforce in 2014 as the body responsible for encouraging judicial diversity; it has implemented a number of schemes to help improve judicial diversity. Recent examples include the 100 plus Diversity and Community Relations Judges doing invaluable work with the community to expel myths about working for the judiciary and interact with schools, universities and the legal professions. There is also a Judicial Mentoring Scheme where judges volunteer to be mentors; providing invaluable advice and guidance to those from under-represented groups seeking a judicial appointment or those wishing to progress in their judicial career.

Data on judicial appointments are published regularly on gov.uk. The below figures show how many candidates were recommended by the JAC for judicial appointment in each of the past six years and how many of those were (1) from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, (2) women and (3) disabled. As these figures are JAC recommendations, they may include a small number of candidates that do not go on to be appointed.

• 2010- 759 candidates were recommended out of which 75 (10%) were from BAME, 309 (41%) were women and 41 (5%) were disabled.
• 2011- 894 candidates were recommended out of which 91 (10%) were from BAME backgrounds, 406 (45%) were women and 34 (4%) were disabled.
• 2012- 371 candidates were recommended out of which 48 (13%) were from BAME backgrounds, 152 (41%) were women and 22 (6%) were disabled.
• 2013- 572 candidates were recommended out of which 38 (7%) were from BAME backgrounds, 303 (53%) were women and 81 (14%) were disabled.
• 2014- 312 candidates were recommended out of which 40 (13%) were from BAME backgrounds, 134 (43%) were women and 11 (4%) were disabled.
• 2015- 319 candidates were recommended out of which 28 (9%) were from BAME backgrounds, 143 (45%) were women and 10 (3%) were disabled.

The Government acknowledges that within the judiciary there is an under-representation of women, those who are disabled and those from a BAME background. However, recent statistics show some improvement which suggests ongoing diversity initiatives, co-ordinated by the Forum, are beginning to have an impact:

1) 12% of judges across Courts and Tribunals under 50 years of age are from a BAME background (around 14% of the UK population are from BAME groups).

2) JAC Official Statistics from April 2015 to March 2016 showed women made up 45% of those recommended for appointment overall (140 of 308 recommendations).