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Written Question
Development Aid: Health Services
Tuesday 15th March 2022

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the last five years for spending overseas (a) in total and (b) on the provision of abortion.

Answered by Amanda Milling

From January 2016 to December 2020 FCDO allocated a total of £256 million to Marie Stopes International (MSI), and £96 million to International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF). Comparable figures beyond December 2020 are not yet available.

A new standard methodology to capture donors' official development assistance spending on sexual and reproductive health and rights was developed by The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) in December 2020. Spending figures for 2016 are reported in the 2020 EPF donor delivery report (https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/DD_Report2020_webversion_new.pdf) and 2017 to 2019 spending figures are reported in the 2021 EPF donor delivery report (https://donorsdelivering.report/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DD_Report_2021.pdf). Comparable figures beyond December 2019 are not yet available.

As FCDO takes an integrated approach to our programming on sexual and reproductive health and rights, it is not possible to give a specific figure for our funding for the provision of safe abortion services.


Written Question
International Planned Parenthood Federation
Tuesday 15th March 2022

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to International Planned Parenthood Foundation over the last five years for spending overseas (a) in total and (b) on the provision of abortion.

Answered by Amanda Milling

From January 2016 to December 2020 FCDO allocated a total of £256 million to Marie Stopes International (MSI), and £96 million to International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF). Comparable figures beyond December 2020 are not yet available.

A new standard methodology to capture donors' official development assistance spending on sexual and reproductive health and rights was developed by The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) in December 2020. Spending figures for 2016 are reported in the 2020 EPF donor delivery report (https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/DD_Report2020_webversion_new.pdf) and 2017 to 2019 spending figures are reported in the 2021 EPF donor delivery report (https://donorsdelivering.report/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DD_Report_2021.pdf). Comparable figures beyond December 2019 are not yet available.

As FCDO takes an integrated approach to our programming on sexual and reproductive health and rights, it is not possible to give a specific figure for our funding for the provision of safe abortion services.


Written Question
Marie Stopes International
Tuesday 15th March 2022

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to Marie Stopes International in the last five years for spending overseas (a) in total and (b) on the provision of abortion.

Answered by Amanda Milling

From January 2016 to December 2020 FCDO allocated a total of £256 million to Marie Stopes International (MSI), and £96 million to International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF). Comparable figures beyond December 2020 are not yet available.

A new standard methodology to capture donors' official development assistance spending on sexual and reproductive health and rights was developed by The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) in December 2020. Spending figures for 2016 are reported in the 2020 EPF donor delivery report (https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/DD_Report2020_webversion_new.pdf) and 2017 to 2019 spending figures are reported in the 2021 EPF donor delivery report (https://donorsdelivering.report/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DD_Report_2021.pdf). Comparable figures beyond December 2019 are not yet available.

As FCDO takes an integrated approach to our programming on sexual and reproductive health and rights, it is not possible to give a specific figure for our funding for the provision of safe abortion services.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 24 Feb 2022
Recognition of the State of Palestine

"Today’s motion asks the UK Government to undermine their commitment to the peace process by predetermining the outcome of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Some may think that recognition is merely an empty gesture and that there is no harm in it whatever, but I believe that supporting this …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: Recognition of the State of Palestine

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 20 Jan 2022
British Council Staff: Afghanistan

"Through Operation Pitting we delivered the largest and most complex evacuation in living memory. That was a truly amazing effort. Will my right hon. Friend join me in praising the heroic efforts of our brilliant armed forces, and can she confirm that we will continue to do everything we can …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: British Council Staff: Afghanistan

Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 25 Nov 2021
International Men’s Day

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma. I congratulate my fellow Yorkshireman, my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Nick Fletcher), on a brilliant speech and the excellent work he does as the chair of the APPG on issues affecting men and boys.

Unfortunately, men’s …..."

Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: International Men’s Day

Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 25 Nov 2021
International Men’s Day

"The hon. Gentleman is certainly making some interesting comments. On the advancement of women in politics, it is brilliant that the number of female MPs in this place has risen so starkly since 1997. Of course, that has been replicated in the Scottish Parliament, where we have a female SNP …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: International Men’s Day

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Nov 2021
Bosnia and Herzegovina

"The break-up of Bosnia and Herzegovina would create massive instability in the region, which would not be in the best interests of neighbouring countries such as Serbia. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government are engaging with Belgrade to encourage leaders in the region to ensure that that …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 19 Oct 2021
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: Iran

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Nokes, and I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Stephen Crabb) on securing the debate.

It is regrettable that, despite the best of intentions, diplomatic efforts over many months have failed to bring Tehran back into …..."

Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: Iran

Written Question
Iran: Nuclear Fuels
Friday 10th September 2021

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.

Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

On 19 August, the UK issued a joint statement with France and Germany underlining our grave concern at the latest reports of the IAEA. These reports confirm that Iran has produced uranium metal enriched up to 20% for the first time, and has significantly increased its production capacity of uranium enriched up to 60%.

60% enrichment constitutes an important step towards developing a nuclear weapon. No State without nuclear weapons has ever before produced Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU). We urge Iran to halt all activities in violation of the JCPoA and return to the negotiations in Vienna as soon as possible with a view to bringing them to a swift, successful conclusion.