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Centre for Women & Democracy
2 Blenheim Terrace
Leeds
LS2 9JG

Tel: 0113 234 6500

E-mail: info@cfwd.org.uk

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Gender, Localism & Constitutional Change

This research, funded by the Feminist Review Trust, examines the government's legislative programme to establish the aggregated effect of the constitutional and localism agendas on women's representation at strategic decision-making levels in England. Currently women are under-represented in parliament (22%), on local councils (31%) and in local leadership roles (14%), and the report on the research will also make recommendations for how new legislation could best be used to improve this position.

There are at present a number of bills going through Parliament which will have a direct impact on the level and nature of women's representation in public life. These include:

  • The Localism Bill – which includes provisions for more elected executive mayors as well as changes to the way local decisions are made and powers for local groups to take over certain services.
  • The House of Lords Reform Bill – which will replace the current House of Lords (22% women) with a new wholly or partially elected body.
  • The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill – which will enable a referendum on changes to the voting system as well as a reduction in the number of constituencies from 600 to 650.
  • The Police Reform & Social Responsibility Bill – which, amongst other things, will replace police authorities with elected police commissioners.
  • The Health Service Bill - which proposes sweeping changes in the way services are provided.
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    In addition, there are other structural changes such as the abolition of Regional Development Agencies and the introduction of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) which will impact upon women's representation at the point at which key economic and social decisions about their lives are made.

    This project will examine the aggregated effect of all these developments on women's representation and their access to decision-making at a number of levels, and will make recommendations for how the interests of women could best be protected and promoted within them.