Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Valerie Vaz Excerpts
Thursday 27th October 2011

(13 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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My hon. Friend has been a doughty campaigner on the subject, and he will know that the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has just undertaken a report on all those issues. The Government are therefore considering it and will respond to it shortly. If I were tempted into replying to the details of his question, I would prejudice that response.

Valerie Vaz Portrait Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
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Having withdrawn funding from the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, will the Secretary of State tell us which women’s organisations he has contacted to encourage women back into those under-represented areas?

Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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It is important that women are properly represented in engineering and science, and I discuss that issue with a range of groups, so I hope the hon. Lady will be encouraged by the fact that we have 26,000 STEMNET ambassadors. Already, we have 40% who are female, but obviously we need to be better.