To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a quota ensuring that women have at least 40 per cent of the seats on corporate boards.
Answered on
15 June 2022
Since 2011, the Government has supported a series of business-led independent reviews, increasing participation of women on FTSE boards via progressive targets: 25% women (Davies Review); 33% (Hampton-Alexander Review) and, to date, 40% (FTSE Women Leaders Review, published 22nd February 2022).
Women’s representation has grown from 9.5% FTSE board members in 2011, to 37.6% to the end of 2021. The UK is ranked second only to France, compared to other nations working to gender balance public listed companies’ boards. The Government continues to commit targets, but, given the successes of the voluntary approach, has no plans to introduce mandatory quotas.