Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Developing Countries: Sanitation and Hygiene

Wednesday 29 April 2020 · 1 question

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John McNally asked about plans to increase support for sanitation and hygiene in developing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Minister highlighted the importance of hygiene and water sanitation in preventing disease transmission.
  • Since 2015, DFID has helped over 51 million people gain access to safe drinking water or toilets for the first time.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John McNally SNP Dewsbury
NHS Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

Hand washing with soap and water is crucial in preventing the spread of coronavirus. The UK has expertise in this area.

Question

The International Rescue Committee highlights that hand-washing facilities are crucial for disease prevention in developing countries, noting NGOs' effectiveness during previous crises like Ebola. Welcoming recent funding to organisations such as the Red Cross, McNally asks about plans to increase support for local NGOs working within communities.

Answer from Wendy Morton

Good hygiene is crucial in preventing covid-19 transmission, and water sanitation and hygiene are key parts of DFID's work during humanitarian crises. Since 2015, DFID has helped over 51 million people gain access to safe drinking water or toilets for the first time. However, there is still more to be done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not specify plans to increase funding for local NGOs specifically.

How: Deflection

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