Dear Mr Jones,

I am writing in response to your request for information of 19th May about staffing figures within the Women's National Commission (WNC). Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that the WNC does hold the information that you have requested and that I am able to provide you with the following information. You asked three questions:

i) For a historical record of the numbers of male and female WNC Commissioners.

I believe you are asking for a historical breakdown between the number of male and female Commissioners, rather than an overall record of the number of Commissioners. All WNC Commissioners appointed by the Minister for Women have been female since the role was created in 1999.

The WNC was formed in 1969, but became a non-departmental public body (NDPB) with a board of Commissioners appointed by the Minister for Women in 1999. Prior to 1999, the Commission was managed by its member organisations, so there were no Commissioners. There are currently six Commissioners, including the Chair.

ii) The numbers of male and female staff who are employed by the WNC Commissioners

The WNC does not hold a record of staff directly employed by its Commissioners. No funds have been paid by WNC to its Commissioners to employ staff.

iii) The numbers of male and female staff who are employed by the WNC Directorate

The WNC is an advisory NDPB, which does not employ its own staff. Instead they are employed directly as civil servants or as temporary/agency staff by its sponsor body the 'Government Equalities Office'. The information is available on the WNC website at http://www.thewnc.org.uk/about_us/direct.... Currently there are eight full and part-time staff members, of which six are female.

The WNC as an organisation aims to be as helpful as possible in the way it deals with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If, however, you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. You also have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied following the authority's review.

Regards

Leon Bond
Business Manager

Women's National Commission
Zones 4/G9
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU
0207 944 0573
[email address]
WNC Switchboard: 0207 944 0585
www.thewnc.org.uk

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