To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) of 23 April 1998, Official Report, column 680, on Swaziland, what efforts are being made by her Department to further participation by women in political institutions in Swaziland. [79940]

The Department for International Development financed gender awareness training for members of Swaziland's parliament two years ago. We have not been asked specifically to help increase participation by women in Swazi political institutions but our future partnership with Swaziland, currently under discussion with Swazi partners, will aim to help women's groups advance women's legal and property rights.