Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the letter to the Prime Minister from the Royal College of Midwives on the reduction in the aid budget, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the reduction in the Official Development Assistance budget on the number of midwives, nurses and doctors in training.

The UK government remains committed to supporting nursing, midwifery and doctor training in low and low-middle income countries through our work to strengthen health systems. This includes our investments in global health initiatives such as the Global Financing Facility and the Global Fund to Fight AIDs, TB and Malaria. It also includes support to large advocacy focused initiatives such as the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Supported by the UK, the WHO, has developed tools to enhance midwifery training. The Strengthening Midwifery in Bangladesh programme also continues to support the training and licensing of midwives.

The impact of the global pandemic on the economy has forced us to take tough but necessary decisions, including within our global health portfolio. The aid budget has been allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate of COVID.