Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to with NGOs to support programmes in Afghanistan affected by the Taliban government's ban on female aid workers in that country.

The ban on Afghan women working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) represents a further violation of the rights and freedoms of Afghan women. The Government is working with the UN, NGOs and other donor governments to understand the impact of the ban, pursue a coordinated response and ensure that life-saving humanitarian assistance continues where possible. Where NGO partners have had to suspend activity, either partially or fully, the UK is continuing to cover staff salaries and other critical associated operational costs. The Government continues to press the Taliban to reverse their decision.