Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Mann and Priti Patel

Wednesday 12th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab)]

1. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of UK aid programmes in Africa.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Priti Patel)]

UK aid plays a vital role in helping the world’s poorest and tackling global challenges such as disease migration and terrorism. In Africa, since 2015, we have provided humanitarian assistance to 13.7 million people.

[John Mann]

I congratulate the Secretary of State on her announcement this week on population. Given what Mrs Gates said about the impact on migration, will the Secretary of State consider how the core funding for organisations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International can be reinstated to allow those organisations to deliver what they have been doing effectively for some years?

[Priti Patel]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right; these are important organisations. Of course, the United Kingdom has led the way on the whole issue of family planning, as we showed yesterday through the summit we held. We are constantly looking at how we can work with important partners on that critical issue and, in particular, on family planning and modern methods of contraception. We will of course review these programmes, too, as all programmes are always under review.