Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many people globally she estimates (a) are without reliable access to electricity and (b) will be without reliable access to electricity in 2030.

The latest report of the Sustainable Energy For All Global Tracking Framework (coordinated by the World Bank and the International Energy Agency) estimates that 1.1 billion people, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, lacked reliable access to electricity in 2012. The report notes that progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal target of universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030 has accelerated. Faster progress is needed if the target is to be achieved, however.

DFID is working with our partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank and Asian Development Bank, to raise and channel the public and private finance needed to reach the target.