To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, columns 396-7W, on developing countries: microfinance, what tools will be included in the toolkit to strengthen the design, implementation and measurement of programmes to empower women through improved financial inclusion.

The toolkit, which will be published in May 2011, provides a range of technical diagrams, checklists, indicators and other information to assist practitioners develop and monitor financial services to enhance women's financial inclusion and contribute to their empowerment. These tools are designed to encourage practitioners to analyse the factors that impact on women's access to financial service; identifying target groups and actions to address gender based barriers; and develop relevant indicators to measure different dimensions of women's financial inclusion.