Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the asbestos industry in India on incidences of mesothelioma in people (a) living near and (b) working in the industry.

The Department for International Development has not undertaken any assessment and does not currently have programmes focused specifically on the safe disposal of asbestos waste in India. The UK ended financial aid to India in 2015. DFID’s support now focuses on investment, sharing expertise and helping India make the most of its own resources to drive growth and create jobs. As part of this, the new UK-India development partnership is supporting urban development in India and DFID is providing support to build more sustainable, cleaner and safer cities.