WOMEN CANDIDATES

Early day motion 1214, tabled 14 May 2003 by Julie Morgan (Labour). Signed by 63 members.

That this House congratulates the people of Wales on electing the world's first perfectly gender-balanced legislature, with 50 per cent. men and 50 per cent. women Assembly members; recognises that all the main political parties in Wales contributed to this achievement; further congratulates the people of Scotland on electing a Scottish Parliament with 40 per cent. women MSPs; however, regrets that only 18 per cent. of honourable Members are women; recalls that the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 permits political parties to take positive action in order to select more women candidates; and urges all political parties to examine their selection procedures to ensure a significant increase in the number of women elected to Westminster at the next general election.

Signatures by party: Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2, DUP 1.