Official Development Assistance

Lord Watts Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I would be very happy to meet with the noble Baroness, especially given her track record on this agenda. She will have noted that we intend to integrate and mainstream our work on gender, particularly through our work on humanitarian and health priorities, and she will note the appointment of my noble and learned friend Lady Harman as our envoy on women and girls. I suggest that my noble friend is included in our discussions too.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the most effective way of helping countries is to try to extend birth control in countries that currently do not have that ability? Does she agree that, in a time when there is a shortage of resources, we should concentrate on that area?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is an incredibly important area to focus on. We have spent £60 million this year on the UNFPA and an additional £8 million on humanitarian family planning products because, as my noble friend says, this is such a vital issue. It can make such a difference to women and girls and to whole communities in places that really need the support.