Science and Engineering

HC Deb 21 March 2002 vol 382 c460W

33. Tony Cunningham

To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to encourage women to take up careers in science and engineering. [42886]

Ms Hewitt

We are raising awareness of the opportunities for women through promotional material such as SPARK magazine, ambassador and role model campaigns and by encouraging girls to try for themselves science, engineering and IT in several ways: computer clubs, the WISE Campaign Outlook programme and endorsing the "take our daughters to work" day on 25 April. We are also looking at DTI schemes to ensure that they do not inadvertently exclude women who want to return to science and engineering careers.