§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that more women are provided with start-up finance by financial institutions, and that potential women entrepreneurs are not discriminated against by financial institutions in the provision of such finance. [6651]
853W
§ Ruth KellyThe latest version of the Banking Code, which came into force on 1 January 2001, includes a key commitment that explicitly states that the banks will make sure that their products and services meet the relevant laws and regulations that relate to discrimination.
Women will also benefit from all of the 96 projects supported through the Development Fund element of the DTI's Phoenix Fund. Some 16 of these projects specifically single out women for help in setting up or developing their own businesses.