Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will include in her Department's robust monitoring of the use of public money by Marie Stopes International and to provide oversight of that organisation's activities according to local law a request for its estimate of the number of abortions carried out in each country where it operates.

The aim of DFID’s work on sexual and reproductive health and rights is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, increase the use of voluntary family planning, and give women control over their own bodies and lives. Marie Stopes International (MSI) are a valued partner in our comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights work.

DFID has robust monitoring and evaluation procedures to ensure UK taxpayers’ money is achieving the results we expect of it across all policy areas. Precise monitoring arrangements vary by project; and progress is always reviewed by DFID on an annual basis. All of our reviews demonstrate confidence in the quality of MSI’s services in developing countries.

DFID funds cannot be used to fund any illegal activities. We treat allegations of any improper use of funds extremely seriously. The process for reporting allegations is on our website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development