WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT

Early day motion 72, tabled 3 July 2001 by Joan Ruddock (Labour). Signed by 117 members.

That this House believes that a democratically elected Parliament should seek to reflect the make-up of its population; notes that while women make up 51 per cent. of the UK population, only 18 per cent. of elected honourable Members are women; considers such an imbalance to be unacceptable in the 21st century; welcomes the Government's promise in the Queen's Speech to draft legislation to enable political parties to take positive action in the selection of women as parliamentary candidates; and urges the Leader of the House to bring forward the legislation as soon as possible to ensure the selection of many more women candidates for the next general election.

Signatures by party: Labour 81, Liberal Democrat 22, Labour/Co-operative 8, Conservative 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.