Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to tackle female genital mutilation overseas; and if she will make a statement.

The UK is supporting efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation worldwide by making the largest single donor commitment ever to this issue, with a flagship programme of £35 million over 5 years. We also aim to galvanise unprecedented political commitment for this neglected issue.

On 22 July, the Prime Minister, the International Development Secretary, the Home Secretary and UNICEF will host Girl Summit 2014, an event to bring together community leaders, grassroots organisations, governments, international organisations and the private sector to build on current efforts and rally a global movement to end FGM and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) in a generation, everywhere, forever.