Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported estimate by MSI Reproductive Choices that thousands of deaths could result from cuts to the UK Overseas Development Assistance budget; whether they have made their own estimate in this regard; and if so, what is their projected number.

MSI Reproductive Choices is a major partner in the UK's flagship multi-country Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Programme which is on track to prevent an estimated 29,000 maternal deaths by end August 2021, through expanding access to modern methods of family planning. The UK remains committed to this programme and an extension to the timeframe will enable the implementing partners to contribute to averting up to an estimated further 1700 maternal deaths.

The FCDO's aid budget has been allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate of COVID. Officials considered the impact on women and girls, the most marginalised and vulnerable, people with disabilities and people from other protected groups, when developing advice to Ministers. The FCDO carried out a central Equalities Impact Assessment which looked at our bilateral country spending. Standalone impact assessments were not carried out, given the multiple overlapping scenarios.