Female techies: Anyone fancy an MBE?

A campaign has been launched to get more women who work in business and technology nominated for Honours from the Queen.

In the 2006 New Year's Honours List less than 37 per cent of the Honours awarded were given to women, even though they make up 51 per cent of the population.

The 'Do the Honours' campaign is aimed at getting more nominations from women and letting the public know that anyone can send in a nomination.

Cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell said in a statement: "It is absolutely crucial that the Honours system rewards those who really deserve it. We would also like to see more successful nominations for women in what have sometimes been considered non-female areas - such as the economy, science and sport."

There are three sectors in which women particularly need to be better represented: the economy (where only 22 per cent of awards go to women), science & technology (26 per cent), and sport (26 per cent).

The Honours lists come out twice a year - at New Year and on the Queen's Official Birthday in mid-June.