A Scottish Government Consultation on the Draft Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill

Introduction

This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government's draft Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill is a key commitment in the Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2016-17: A Plan for Scotland, and represents a further step towards the realisation of women's equality in Scotland, a goal which remains at the heart of the Scottish Government's vision for an equal Scotland.

Using the new competence transferred to the Scottish Parliament through the Scotland Act 2016, the Bill will require positive action to be taken to: redress gender imbalances on public sector boards.

The purpose of the consultation is to seek views on the practical application of the Bill's provisions and to offer consultees an opportunity to offer views on how the Bill might be strengthened. Responses will help to inform the development of the Bill, prior to its introduction to the Scottish Parliament in Summer 2017.

Although the consultation does not seek views on or set out in detail the arguments in favour of or against legislation in principle, any views put forward by consultees will be noted as part of the analysis of responses.

A summary of the draft Bill can be found at page 9, and the full text of the draft Bill can be found at page 12.