Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to protect funding for (a) health and (b) education in the event that reductions in the aid budget are required as a result of a reduction in Gross National Income.

All government departments are working through how their plans need to change in light of the risk of a recession this year. No decision has been taken, but we are considering the full range of our work. It is absolutely in Britain’s interest to use ODA to make the world a healthier, safer and more prosperous place, either through tackling coronavirus, providing humanitarian aid in crises or helping girls get a quality education.