To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to reduce the gender gap between men and women in setting up new businesses.

The Government believe that much more needs to be done to encourage women to start their own businesses. If women started businesses at the same rate as men each year it would create an additional 150,000 start-up businesses. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to consider the best way of addressing the issues and challenges relating to women's enterprise.