Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Law Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd May 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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DFID has a proud tradition as a leader in initiatives that empower women, including economically. Microfinance is critical to that. In most countries where we have a presence, we are running such a programme specifically for women.

Chris Law Portrait Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)
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ActionAid has calculated that women in developing countries could be almost £7 trillion better off if their pay and access to paid work were equal to that of men. Will the Secretary of State make a commitment that, when establishing such agreements around the world, the UK will demonstrate its commitment to women’s rights and gender equality by ensuring that new co-operatives go further than they have before in protecting and upholding women’s rights?

Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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I will commit to do just that. We have a big opportunity with the forthcoming G7 Development Ministers’ meeting next week in Canada. Canada has done a huge amount on this agenda, and the issues of which the hon. Gentleman speaks will feature heavily in our discussions.