To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the opportunities to support the empowerment of women through his Department's Private Sector Department.

The Department for International Development's (DFID) vision for girls and women has economic empowerment as a central pillar. DFID's Private Sector Department is working with, on and through the private sector to help women gain direct access to, and control over, economic assets, serving in turn to boost their status in communities and households. The Private Sector Department is developing programmes to support women by improving employment opportunities and increasing their access to financial and basic services.

Across DFID, we plan to improve access to financial services for over 18 million women; help 2.3 million women attain employment, and secure land rights for 4.5 million women.