5th Report - Women in the House of Commons after the 2020 election
- HC No.
- HC 630
- Published
- 10 Jan 2017
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 7 September 2017. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Women in the House of Commons inquiry
Closed
Opened 4 Aug 2016
Closed 3 May 2017
Women and Equalities Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Almost 100 years after the first woman was elected, there have only ever been as many women MPs as there are men sitting in the House of Commons today. Political parties must be held to account for reducing this democratic deficit in future, says the report by the Women and Equalities Committee.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 4 August 2016.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 5th Report - Women in the House of Commons after the 2020 election on 10 January 2017.
The government's response
Published 7 September 2017.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government agrees that increasing women's representation is an important aim but does not support a domestic target, statutory quotas or sanctions, looking instead to parties to lead through "further and more vigorous voluntary action".
- It "does not believe that overall domestic targets are the solution" and says initiatives need to be developed by the parties, though it agrees it should support parties in this aim.
- It does not believe legislative quotas for parliamentary candidates are "the right approach", and because it "does not support quotas set out in legislation" it does not agree that sanctions should be introduced.
- On publishing candidate diversity data, it "proposes to continue the process of engaging with the parties" ahead of the next General Election, "rather than imposing legislative requirements" through section 106 of the Equality Act.
- On all-women shortlists, it notes current legislation already provides for them up to 2030, so extension is "not at present an immediate issue". On mayoral and police and crime commissioner posts, it says "We will need to consider this issue further."
Reports
All reportsEvidence
- 2 oral evidence sessionsLatest 12 October 2016
Recent activity
- Women in the House of Commons after the 2020 election: Government Response to the Committee's Fifth Report of Session 2016-177 September 2017, Report published
- Responses from political parties and Mr Speaker to the Women in the House after the 2020 general election report24 April 2017, Correspondence
- Chair's letter to Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP regarding Women in the House of Commons after 2020 election report20 January 2017, Correspondence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 2017 | Not recorded | Responses from political parties and Mr Speaker to the Women in the House after the 2020 general election report |
| 20 Jan 2017 | From committee | Chair's letter to Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP regarding Women in the House of Commons after 2020 election report |
| 20 Jan 2017 | From committee | Chair's letter to Rt Hon Angus Roberston MP regarding Women in the House of Commons after 2020 election report |
| 20 Jan 2017 | From committee | Chair's letter to Tim Farron MP regarding Women in the House of Commons after 2020 election report |
| 20 Jan 2017 | From committee | Chair's letter to Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP regarding Women in the House of Commons after 2020 election report |