Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote the importance of clean water and good sanitation as part of tackling covid-19 in developing countries.

With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the UK Government rapidly increased support to hygiene programmes in developing countries. Through the Hygiene, Handwashing and Behaviour Change Coalition on COVID-19 programme, we are working in partnership with Unilever and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 37 countries to provide advice, promote hand and surface hygiene, and deliver supplies including soap and sanitiser to people in urgent need.

The UK is also helping schools worldwide to re-open safely while managing COVID-19 transmission risks. The UK Government-supported Hygiene Hub for COVID-19 has produced specific guidance on reopening schools after lockdown. The hub provides national governments, NGOs and other stakeholders with evidence-based advice and examples of best practice on hygiene and behaviour change.