Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department have met with the Special Envoy for Girls Education to discuss the allocation of Official Development Assistance funding to girls education for 2021-22.

Since her appointment on 16 January by the Prime Minister as the Special Envoy for Girls' Education, Helen Grant MP has been supported by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) officials, and works closely with the Foreign Secretary and myself.

She does not, however, have a role in girls' education funding decisions, and has not been part of the allocation process for 2021/22 Official Development Assistance. Her dedicated role supports and contributes strongly to a joined-up, UK Government promotion of the girls' education agenda, particularly in this critical year of UK leadership through our G7 Presidency, and co-hosting of the Global Education Summit.