Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2021 to Question 5258, whether a specific impact assessment for the transmission of covid-19 in developing countries was conducted prior to the decision being taken to cancel Official Development Assistance funding to the UK Partnerships for Health Systems programme.

The UK's aid budget has been allocated in accordance with our key strategic priorities, after a cross-government review of how we spend ODA. The Foreign Secretary has agreed he will focus our investment and expertise where the UK can make the most difference and achieve maximum impact. Officials considered any impact on women and girls, the most marginalised and vulnerable, people with disabilities and people from other protected groups, when developing advice to Ministers. While most future activity on the programme is being stopped, existing COVID Response Fund grants are being funded to completion and will support developing country partners to respond to the pandemic and maintain essential health services.