Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that funding from the public purse is not allocated to programmes that support sex-selective abortion overseas.

The UK strongly opposes sex-selective abortion. We do not fund programmes which contribute directly or indirectly to sex-selective abortion. DFID has in place several measures to ensure the accountability of all UK aid, including our programmes that support access to safe abortion care. These include due diligence of all primary implementing partners, regular spot checks, a robust monitoring and evaluation system which includes beneficiary feedback and annual project reviews.

Sex-selective abortion is the result of deep-rooted discrimination against women and girls. The UK supports partner governments’ efforts to prevent this discrimination through our programmes to promote gender equality, girls’ and women’s empowerment and rights.