MPs call for more female witnesses to give evidence before select committees
1 min read
MPs have demanded that a higher proportion of female witnesses are called before select committees, in a bid to ensure a greater diversity of opinion.
The influential Liaison Committee raised concerns about the gender split of panellists after it found that only 33% of those giving evidence over the past year were women.
In light of the findings, the committee recommended that 40% of "discretionary witnesses" – people who are invited by MPs to give evidence rather than ministers or senior officials – should be female.
Committee chair Sarah Wollaston, said: "Just as it is important to aim for a gender balanced parliament, so too that needs to be reflected in the diversity of the witnesses invited to give evidence at select committees.
"By focusing on this issue we hope that all committees will make further progress towards equal representation on both sides of select committee tables."
In a report on the issue, the MPs recommended an end to all-male panels.
Committee member Maria Miller said: "Select committee inquiries rely on top quality evidence that brings together a range of views - that includes women's views.
"Important progress is being made but, whilst all male panels are almost a thing of the past, still only one in three witnesses giving oral evidence is female."
She added that organisations must "think more about the diversity of the witnesses they send to give evidence".
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