21 November 2007

Dear Barbara,

I am writing to say thank you for coming to talk to me and the WNC Commissioners recently to discuss the WNC Light Touch Review.

We are looking in detail at each recommendation along the lines we discussed and will be in touch soon to give you more detail. Briefly, we very much welcome the recommendations as set out in the Report and in some areas, as we discussed, we are keen to take things further. We are delighted that you are progressing the work with the devolved administrations and would very much welcome any feedback from you when we next meet.

There is one area, however, where we believe we would benefit from some flexibility, which is with recommendation Giii: 'The Director's posting should be for a period of two or three years.' Ideally, we would prefer to have 'not more than five years.' The post is traditionally one where building relationships and credibility with the sector is crucial and shorter-term posts could be detrimental to those relationships.

With your agreement, I would be keen to publish the recommendations, accompanied by a letter from me. Do let me know what you think about this and we will then inform our partners that the Review is concluded.

Minister for Women consultation on priorities

We would be delighted to give you and/or Harriet a presentation of the findings of the WNC consultation on the Ministers' for Women priorities, perhaps at one of our regular meetings with you.

Of course, the consultation will inform work areas where WNC may usefully add value. As will what our Partners told us were their priorities in last December's Partner Conference. I enclose a copy of that report for your information.

I am delighted to now have the opportunity to really move WNC to a new era of engagement with Government. I look forward to seeing you soon and very much welcome your proposal to hold quarterly meetings.

The next Commissioner's meeting takes place on 11 and 12 December: Dinner will be on 11 December to which you are extremely welcome.

Yours sincerely,

Baroness Joyce Gould of Potternewton

Interim Chair

Zones 1/F6

Ashdown House

123 Victoria Street

London

SW1E 6DE

Telephone: 020 7944 0585

Fax: 020 7944 0583

Email: [Women's National Commission request email]

Web: www.thewnc.org.uk

The Women's National Commission (WNC) is the official independent advisory body giving the views of women in the UK to the Government. The WNC represents over 500 women's organisations throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.