More disabled people appointed to public posts

The proportion of disabled people appointed to posts in public bodies has risen over the last year but more should be done to widen the pool of applicants, according to the public appointments commissioner.

The commissioner’s annual report* showed the percentage of appointments and reappointments of disabled people rose to 6.1 per cent during 2006/07, up from 4.4 per cent the previous year.

The proportion of disabled people appointed as chairs also rose, from 3.2 to 3.5 per cent.

It was the fourth successive year that the number of disabled appointees and reappointees increased.

The commissioner, Janet Gaymer, said there had been “encouraging progress” with certain groups, including disabled people, but the data showed room for improvement.

She said: “It is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that the boards of these bodies which govern so much of our daily lives better reflect the population they serve.”

The commissioner said a new diversity strategy would look at how certain groups of people are made aware of appointments and the barriers that stop them from applying.

*To see a copy of the report, tel: 020 7276 2625 or visit www.ocpa.gov.uk