Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help ensure the employment of women by (a) aid agencies and (b) NGOs in Afghanistan.

We are committed to ensuring the delivery of aid in Afghanistan, including the continued participation of female aid workers and the full access of women and girls to services. We regularly engage with humanitarian partners to understand the situation for female staff and how best to support their continued role in the response. We provide financial flexibility to partners to support costs, enabling female staff to continue working.

We have repeatedly condemned the Taliban's decisions to restrict the rights of women and girls and are working with the international community to push for women and girls' rights in Afghanistan.