Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that women are not disproportionately affected by the Government's fiscal policies.

The Government is helping more women than ever before to start businesses and get the support they need to work.

In the last parliament, 2.2 million women were taken out of income tax. This year’s increase in the personal allowance will lift over 680,000 further people out of income tax by 2017/18, of whom over 60% will be women.

Around two thirds of those who will benefit from the National Living Wage are estimated to be women.

The planned doubling of the free childcare entitlement for working families with three- and four-year-olds is worth up to £5,000 per child per year.

It is also equally important for the future finances of both women and men that the Government remains committed to tackling the deficit and strengthening the economy.