The Scotsman

More women means ‘better decisions’

- By LAURA PATERSON mmclaughli­n@scotsman.com

Increasing the proportion of women on public boards will help them “make better decisions”, the Equalities Secretary has said.

Angela Constance was speaking in a stage one debate at Holyrood on a proposed law to boost the number of women in Scotland’s public boardrooms.

The Gender Representa­tion on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill sets an objective that wom- en should make up at least half of non-executive public board members by 2022.

If passed, the Bill will apply to colleges, universiti­es and some public bodies, including health boards, enterprise agencies, the Scottish Police Authority and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Ms Constance said: “At its heart, this Bill is about equality for women, who represent 51.5 per cent of the population yet only 45 per cent of regulated ministeria­l public appointmen­ts.

“It’s about this Parliament using the powers it that has to deliver a fairer and more equal Scotland.

“Women’s voices need to be heard and they need to be part of the decisions that are made in Scotland’s boardrooms.”

The Minister said the bill would act as a “catalyst” to encourage more diversity on boards in other areas such as race.

It is also hoped it will help tackle underlying attitudes perpetuati­ng violence against women.

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