Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Mark Lazarowicz

Wednesday 17th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Swayne]

We have provided some 29 million women with access to financial services, and we are supporting the provision of some £26 billion in commercial loans to some 50,000 businesses led by women. Last year at the conference we announced that we would provide support for mentoring for 100 women across north Africa.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

It is important that businesses big and small across the world pay their workers a decent wage, yet Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament voted against the global development programme because it included a minimum wage. Is that the policy of the Government as well?

[Mr Swayne]

Government policy is that all businesses, particularly small businesses, should pay a living wage, but first they have to generate wealth and entrepreneurs have to begin to provide for businesses before they can pay any wages at all.