Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the 2021-22 reduction in Overseas Development Assistance on (a) the humanitarian response, (b) health, (c) poverty alleviation, (d) food security and nutrition and (e) conflict resolution in Yemen.

The impact of the pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take tough decisions, including temporarily reducing the overall amount we spend on aid. For Yemen, we have pledged at least £87 million for this financial year. This will feed 240,000 of the most vulnerable Yemenis every month, support 400 healthcare clinics and provide clean water for 1.6 million people. We will also provide one-off cash support to 1.5 million of Yemen's poorest households to help them buy food and basic supplies.

We fully support the peace process led by the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, and urge the parties to engage constructively with this process. On 1 March 2021 I [Minister Cleverly] spoke to UN Special Envoy Griffiths about how best the UK can help him end the war.

The FCDO's aid budget has been allocated in14714 accordance with UK strategic priorities against the challenging financial climate of COVID. Officials considered any impact on women and girls, the most marginalised and vulnerable, people with disabilities and people from other protected groups, when developing advice to Ministers.