§ Ms McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken with the organisation Foundation for Women's Health996W Research and Development concerning female genital mutilation in the UK; and if the findings will be published. [132942]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 27 July 2000]: The Department has undertaken no research on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with the Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development. The Department does however provide funding through the Section 64 scheme to help them with their work in educating and informing the communities practising FGM about the brutality of the practice and the clear health risks associated with it.
This support includes core grant funding of £25,000 for 1999–2000 to 2001–02, to help meet the organisation's running costs. Over the last few years the Department of Health has provided funds totalling nearly £280,000 for projects developed by FORWARD in the United Kingdom.