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Written Question
Development Aid: Maternity Services
Monday 7th July 2025

Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support global maternal and newborn health initiatives; and whether he plans to change the level of support in the next five years.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Healthy Women, Children and Newborns (HWCN) is the UK government's approach to help end preventable maternal, child and newborn deaths, supporting global efforts in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030. The approach works to strengthen health systems; promote gender equality and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights; and support improved nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and climate resilience in health.

The Spending Review 2025 confirmed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 2026/27 onwards. Over the coming months, the Department will undertake detailed planning to determine how this budget will be allocated. The FCDO is reviewing how these allocations will support existing and future commitments, with a continued focus on ensuring all ODA spending delivers value for money and advances the UK's development priorities, including global health.

ODA has always been only one element of the UK's approach, alongside policy and diplomatic efforts. In April 2025, at the UN Commission on Population and Development, the UK cosponsored the launch of the Global Midwifery Accelerator, which aims to shift the dial on midwifery, encouraging partnerships and investment to end preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.


Division Vote (Commons)
2 Jul 2025 - Deferred Division - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 62 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 333 Noes - 168
Division Vote (Commons)
2 Jul 2025 - Deferred Division - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 62 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 338 Noes - 79
Division Vote (Commons)
2 Jul 2025 - Armed Forces Commissioner Bill - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 59 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 321 Noes - 158
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Jul 2025
West Bank: Forced Displacement

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. I thank the hon. Member for Glasgow North (Martin Rhodes) for securing this important debate.

For the almost six decades that the west bank has been occupied by Israel, the UN Security Council has been calling for Israel to …..."

Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: West Bank: Forced Displacement

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Jul 2025
West Bank: Forced Displacement

"Palestinian children have a right to education and to the chance of a decent future, as all children do. A total of 84 west bank schools are under threat from pending demolition orders. Will the Minister update us on steps being taken to support UNRWA and ensure education provision in …..."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: West Bank: Forced Displacement

Division Vote (Commons)
2 Jul 2025 - Competition - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 62 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 338 Noes - 79
Division Vote (Commons)
2 Jul 2025 - Prisons - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 62 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 333 Noes - 168
Written Question
Armed Conflict: Children
Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking through the UN to advance the Children and Armed Conflict agenda.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UN Secretary General's 2025 report on Children and Armed Conflict is shocking; it shows that children are being harmed and denied lifesaving aid on an unprecedented scale.

As we made clear in our statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 25 June, the UK is deeply concerned at the worsening situation for children in conflict, and remains committed to both preventing and ending grave violations against children in conflict, and to supporting, promoting and defending the UN Children and Armed Conflict mandate.

The UK is an active member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and plays a key role in ensuring effective scrutiny by the UN Security Council of conflicts where children are harmed.

In 2024-25, the UK funded UNICEF's Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, which is a vital tool in ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.


Division Vote (Commons)
1 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 70 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 328