The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has begun consultation on whether the UK Corporate Governance Code should be revised to require listed companies to publish their policy on gender diversity in the boardroom and report against it annually. This follows a recommendation in Lord Davies’ report, “Women on Boards”, which was published in February. Views are also sought on whether the Code should identify some of the key issues to be considered when boards carry out their regular effectiveness reviews, and on the timing of any changes that might be made to the Code as a result of the consultation.
The consultation closes on 29 July 2011. A decision on whether to amend the Code and, if so, the timetable for doing so, will be announced later in the year.
A copy of the consultation and related documentation can be found here: http://www.frc.org.uk/corporate/ukcgcode.cfm