asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken or proposes to take to provide more employment for women in the constituency of Brigg and Scunthorpe

The Government's special employment measures apply equally to men and women, and have so far assisted nearly 2,200 people in the Scunthorpe area. In particular, 337 of the 522 young people helped to far in the area under the youth opportunities programme have been females, as have 13 of the 34 provided with jobs by the special temporary employment programme. In addition, women's employment will have been assisted by the 528 new jobs created in the area through the financial help given under Section 7 of the Industry Act.