HC Deb 02 April 1990 vol 170 cc413-4W
85. Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to increase the percentage of women taking part in Overseas Development Administration-financed training schemes.

Mrs. Chalker

Our comprehensive women in development (WID) strategy includes dialogue at all levels with aid-recipient Governments on opportunities for women as well as requests that they nominate more women for ODA training awards. ODA and British Council officials are seeking more nominations for women on all types of courses. We are exploring opportunities for more in-country courses, where representation of women is often higher than for courses in Britain, and we have sought to remove obstacles which are particularly daunting for women in attending United Kingdom courses. But all our efforts will be ineffective if developing country Governments are not willing to nominate more women for training awards.

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