HC Deb 22 January 2004 vol 416 cc1378-9W
Siobhain McDonagh

To ask Minister for Women what action she is taking to help women entrepreneurs. [149758]

Ms Hewitt

The Government are now actively implementing the Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise which was launched in May last year, to provide a co-ordinated and long-term approach to the development of women's enterprise.

We are now working with many partners nationally and in the regions to take forward the recommendations of the Framework. And we continue to work productively with women's enterprise organisations such as PROWESS and Everywoman.

We are encouraged by the findings on women's enterprise of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's most recent report which finds levels of total female entrepreneurship in the UK having risen from 3.3 per cent. in 2002 to 3.8 per cent. in 2003 and female attitudes to start-up having become far more positive during the last year.

Early reports from the regions suggest levels of women's enterprise are rising; although it is still early days, it encouraging to hear of real progress being made in the north east, East Midlands and the south east.