S4M-03289: Women's Representation

The motion

That the Parliament believes that women and men play an equal role in Scotland’s public sector; notes with concern that women continue to be underrepresented on the boards of Scotland’s public sector organisations; understands that barriers continue to exist for women gaining a place on such boards; further understands that nations across Europe such as Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland have introduced a quota system that has been successful in promoting equality of representation on public bodies and publicly owned company boards; notes that the European Parliament voted to recommend a 40% quota on company boards throughout Europe by 2020; further notes the recommendations of Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski in the Scottish Government’s Report of the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland to introduce a 40% gender quota for Scottish university courts, and believes that such measures should be replicated throughout Scotland’s public bodies to bring about equal representation.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

Labour’s motion was rewritten by an SNP amendment (S4M-03289.1) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s wording.

That the Parliament believes that women and men play an equal role in Scotland’s public sector; notes with concern that women continue to be underrepresented on the boards of Scotland’s public sector organisations; understands that barriers continue to exist for women gaining a place on such boards;

103 words removed by S4M-03289.1

further understands that nations across Europe such as Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland have introduced a quota system that has been successful in promoting equality of representation on public bodies and publicly owned company boards; notes that the European Parliament voted to recommend a 40% quota on company boards throughout Europe by 2020; further notes the recommendations of Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski in the Scottish Government’s Report of the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland to introduce a 40% gender quota for Scottish university courts, and believes that such measures should be replicated throughout Scotland’s public bodies to bring about equal representation.

S4M-03289.1 SNP welcomes the steps that the Scottish Government has taken to address this imbalance through the Diversity Delivers strategy, including the establishment of the public appointment and diversity centre of expertise to advise on and administer the public appointments process across the Scottish Government; recognises the work that has been undertaken to increase the application and appointment rates for under-represented groups, including women in public appointments, resulting in 34% of public appointments in 2011-12 being held by women; recognises that, while there has been progress on some strands of diversity, further work is required, and therefore agrees that there should be an open event hosted by the Scottish Government and supported by the Public Appointments Commissioner to review the progress of the Diversity Delivers strategy in relation to gender equality and to consider further actions to make sure that there is further progress toward improved women’s representation in public life.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

S4M-03289.1 SNP Shona Robison Agreed vote, 73–40

Vote

1 division

14 Jun 2012
Women's Representation
S4M-03289as amended by SNP
Carried
81 for, 34 against

Amendments

1

S4M-03289.1

Women's Representation
Shona Robison SNP Lodged 13 Jun 2012

Carried
73 for, 40 against

Supporters

No MSP has added their name to this motion.

In the Official Report

3 contributions mention S4M-03289

14 Jun 2012

Women’s Representation (Public Sector Boards)
Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-03289, in the name of Jenny Marra, on women’s representation.09:15
14 Jun 2012

Decision Time
Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S4M-03289.1, in the name of Shona Robison, which seeks to amend motion S4M-03289, in the name of Jenny Marra, on women’s representat…
14 Jun 2012

Decision Time
Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

The next question is, that motion S4M-03289, in the name of Jenny Marra, on women’s representation, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.