§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the people who obtained career development loans since the scheme was launched in 1986 were women; and how many of these women had children(a) in the under-fives age group and (b) in the five to 16 age group.
§ Mr. CopeSince career development loans were launched in 1986, a total of 2,431 loans have been approved, of which 949, or approximately two out of every five loans, have been taken out by women. At the time of application, 35 of these women had children only in the under-five age group, 103 had children only in the five to 16 age group and a further 20 had children in both age groups.