Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that the World Bank's environmental and social safeguard policies take account of the rights and needs of (a) LGBT people and (b) other vulnerable groups.

The Government attaches considerable importance to the current review of the World Bank’s Safeguards Framework. We have been strongly engaged throughout both with UK civil society organisations and the World Bank, most recently at UK consultation meetings on 19-20 January. At these, discussions with the Bank included a specific focus on how the safeguards will ensure proper consideration and risk management for vulnerable or disadvantaged groups such as women, the disabled and LGBT people. The Government will continue to raise these points as the review progresses.