Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the role of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in supporting global health, economic development and climate resilience, and what discussions has she had with the World Bank on increasing investment in water security, sanitation and hygiene through the Water Forward initiative.

The UK is working with international partners to build global ambition on water security and support preparations for a successful and action-orientated 2026 UN Water Conference.

We recognise the critical importance of water security, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for progress on health, health security, women and girls, economic growth, climate and nature and the Sustainable Development Goals, and we welcome the new Water Forward initiative launched at the World Bank Spring Meetings. We are working with Multilateral Development Banks to drive access to climate-resilient and inclusive WASH services and attract additional financial resources to the sector, including from private investors, to accelerate progress and scale up results. We will also continue to support WASH through our recently established Communities of Expertise, working with partner countries to build more resilient, sustainable and equitable health systems and support healthier lives.

Priorities for the UK's 2027 G20 Presidency will be set out in the usual way in due course.