WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT

Early day motion 420, tabled 17 February 2000 by Joan Ruddock (Labour). Signed by 124 members.

That this House believes that a democratically-elected Parliament should reflect the makeup of its population; notes that while women make up 51 per cent. of the United Kingdom population, over 80 per cent. of elected members of Parliament are men; considers such an imbalance to be unacceptable in the 21st century; calls on all political parties to put in place positive measures to address gender inequality; and supports the amendment of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to remove any ambiguity over the legality of such measures.

Signatures by party: Labour 81, Liberal Democrat 27, Labour/Co-operative 9, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1.