Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings (a) she and (b) her predecessor had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser (i) from 1 September to 30 November 2019 and (ii) from 1 December 2019 to 29 February 2020.

The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser met with the previous Secretary of State, Alok Sharma, 3 times during the period 1 September to 30 November 2019.

She also met with the previous Secretary of State Alok Sharma on 4 occasions between 1 December 2019 and 12 February 2020 and with the current Secretary of State, Anne Marie Trevelyan, on 4 occasions between 13 February and 29 February 2020.

The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.