Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: Women and Girls

Tuesday 31 January 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • A third of women worldwide lack access to clean water.
  • UK aid has trained 460,000 workers in hygiene and supported 14,800 healthcare facilities.
  • The Minister agreed to ensure UK-funded aid programmes are accessible to Christians and other ethnic minorities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paulette Hamilton Lab Birmingham Erdington
Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities
Context

A third of women around the world do not have access to clean water. The questioner visited Ghana and saw how UK aid-funded WASH projects can be life-changing.

Question

I refer the House to my declaration in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. A third of women around the world do not have access to clean water. In December, I visited Ghana and saw how water, sanitation and hygiene projects funded by UK aid can be life-changing for women and girls. The Government's international development strategy commits to “empowering women and girls” around the world, but it does not go far enough. Can the Minister assure me that his Department will prioritise funding for WASH projects for women and girls?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

Over the last three years, Britain has trained 460,000 health and other key workers in the science of hygiene, and has supported 14,800 healthcare facilities. That is highly prioritised by the British Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a specific commitment to prioritize funding for WASH projects for women and girls; the answer did not provide such a commitment.

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Q2 Paulette Hamilton Lab Birmingham Erdington
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

Research indicates that Christian communities are often deprived of access to vital aid programmes.

Question

Research by Open Doors for its world watch list indicates that there is a worrying tendency for Christian communities to be deprived of access to vital aid programmes. Will the Minister ensure that all UK-funded aid programmes are open to Christians, where needed, and other ethnic minorities?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

My right hon. Friend makes an extremely good point, and the answer is yes.

Answered
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Q3 Theresa Villiers Con
Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities Environment
Context

On the current trajectory, the UK is set to miss every single one of the sustainable development goals by 2030. The official development assistance for WASH has dropped by two thirds.

Question

We have now passed the halfway mark to the 2030 deadline for meeting the sustainable development goals that we and 192 UN countries signed up to. On our current trajectory, however, we are set to miss every single one. Does the Minister agree that WASH is a cornerstone of the global goals and, to meet his targets on girls' education and ending preventable deaths, schools and hospitals need clean water and sanitation? Will he restore the official development assistance for WASH, which has dropped by two thirds, as part of the women and girls strategy?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

Since the programmes were renewed in 2015, 63 million people in the poorest countries now have access to clean water and a lavatory, thanks to the UK taxpayer. Specifically, support for the Sanitation and Water for All partnership is a high priority for the Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked specifically about restoring WASH funding which has dropped by two thirds; the answer did not address this request.

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