Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the sexual and reproductive health rights programmes they support reach marginalised women and girls, and what data they collect to monitor this.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to reaching the most marginalised. The Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Dividend programme focuses on reaching marginalised groups. Implementers report on indicators, including targets on the number of adolescents reached and how many clients are in multidimensional poverty. In 2022 a third of WISH clients were under 20 years old and 5% of clients were living with a severe disability. Regarding funding for the UNFPA Supplies partnership, UNFPA in-country assessments provide data on commodities reaching the last mile and UNFPA Supplies mid-term evaluation will include assessment for the most-left-behind groups.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of official development assistance allocated to sexual and reproductive health rights targets populations in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) annually reports on Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure via the Statistics on International Development publication (Statistics on International Development: final UK ODA spend 2023).

UK ODA reporting follows established sector codes and recipient countries designated by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC). We do not report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) expenditure as it is not specified by OECD DAC and spans across multiple OECD sector codes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether future sexual and reproductive health rights funding will run for a minimum of five years as recommended in the International Development Committee's report The FCDO's approach to sexual and reproductive health, published 25 January 2024.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is committed to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and to maintaining a strong portfolio of financial support to the sector. Our approach to modernising development means working with others in a spirit of genuine partnership and respect and making good on our word. At present, there is no requirement for SRHR programmes to run for a minimum of five years, and future spend will depend upon the outcome of the multi-year Spending Review.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to consider reciprocal exchange programmes of midwives as recommended in the International Development Committee's report The FCDO's approach to sexual and reproductive health, published 25 January 2024.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Reciprocal exchange programmes are not a specific recommendation in the January 2024 International Development Committee Report. Nonetheless, maternal, newborn and child health, including midwifery, is a priority for the FCDO. The FCDO recently signed an agreement with the International Confederation of Midwives, aiming to strengthen midwifery associations in partner countries.

Found: Committee Room 2A and on Microsoft Teams Present: Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Chair) Baroness Hussein -Ece

Found: Kinnoull (Chair) Lord Faulkner of Worcester Lord Hogan -Howe Lord Howard of Rising Baroness Hussein -Ece

Found: This proposal is supported by Lord Carter of Haslemere, Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, Baroness Hussein-Ece