QWelsh Labour is justifiably proud of its record in ensuring the National Assembly for Wales has one of the best representations of women members in the world

Welsh Labour executive statement

Meanwhile, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has addressed the conference, saying the last six years have been the most exciting period of progress in Welsh history.

He listed the achievements of the Assembly government, including free local bus travel for pensioners, abolishing tests for pupils at Key Stage One, and told delegates "you ain't seen nothing yet".

By backing the all-women shortlists, Labour is the first party to make use of a law change in 2001 which legalised this kind of positive discrimination in favour of women.

Opponents of the plan had claimed the move was about politics, not gender, because the party was not considering shortlists for disabled people or ethnic minorities.

The conference is taking place in Llandudno

But supporters described the vote as the first step towards reaching gender balance throughout British politics.

There are 16 seats in which Labour must find new candidates for the 2003 elections, as all of the Labour assembly members who are seeking re-election have already been reselected by their constituencies.

Three of the six constituencies which will take part in the scheme must be selected from a list of areas classed as winnable - the other three will be in constituencies which the party is less likely to win.

But if local parties do not volunteer, the leadership will impose the lists on them.

Currently, 16 of Labour's 28 AMs are women.

"Welsh Labour is justifiably proud of its record in ensuring the National Assembly for Wales has one of the best representations of women members in the world," said a statement from the Welsh Labour executive.

Categories extended

Elsewhere, Welsh Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt offered further assurances to trade unions who are opposed to the UK Government scheme to inject private money into hospitals.

She is to extend the categories of hospital workers who remain in the NHS under future PFI deals.

These will include domestic, porters and catering staff.

NHS bodies entering PFI deals would also have to show why this had been chosen instead of the public sector.