Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on facilitating health professionals in England to travel to low and middle income countries to provide healthcare education and training; and if she will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for International Development has not discussed this directly with the present Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (DHSC). It was discussed with his predecessor at DHSC and focused on how DFID and DHSC can work together to promote international health partnerships and schemes that share the expertise of UK health professionals. These partnerships address global health challenges and promote Global Britain.

DFID and DHSC work closely on programmes that facilitate these partnerships for UK health professionals to provide healthcare education and training in low and middle-income countries. We also collaborate on schemes that bring health professionals from low and middle-income countries to both learn from UK healthcare professionals and contribute to the delivery of NHS services.