Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer of 10 December 2018 to Question 199384 on developing countries: abortion, which states that DFID does not disaggregate figures solely relating to safe abortion procedures and the Answer of 21 December 2017 to Question 119743 on Marie Stopes International, which states that DFID has robust monitoring procedures, if she will request information from Marie Stopes International on the number of abortions funded by her Department in 2017.

DFID takes an integrated approach to our programming on sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to meet a wide range of women’s reproductive health needs. Because these services are integrated, it is not possible to disaggregate figures solely relating to safe abortion procedure. This principle applies to programmes delivered by all partners with DFID funding, including Marie Stopes International, and therefore this information is not available.

The aim of DFID’s work on sexual and reproductive health and rights is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, increase the use of voluntary family planning, and give women control over their own bodies and lives. DFID’s robust monitoring and evaluation procedures vary by project and are tailored in order to demonstrate the project is meeting its aims.