HL Deb 15 July 1998 vol 592 cc23-4WA
The Earl of Sandwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any assessment of the effect of small-scale employment of women in selected rural areas of India or East Africa, in particular the effects of income-generation or microcredit programmes designed for women of child-bearing age, on the acceptance of family planning. [HL2719]

Lord Whitty

All income generation and microcredit projects have as a central objective the creation of employment opportunities. The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that many women in South Asia and Africa share particular problems related to their unequal access to resources and services and limited participation in public life. As a consequence many such projects are targeted primarily, if not exclusively, at women, and the evidence indicates that such projects have a significant impact on increasing their family income and employment opportunities.

DFID has funded independent studies to look at the impact of microfinance and income generation projects on women and, overall, the results have been favourable. However, such projects should not be seen as a panacea to all the problems facing poor women and other types of support are likely to impact more directly on the choices surrounding family planning.

Forward to