Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27541 on Neglected Tropical Diseases, how much financial support his Department is providing for UK research into neglected tropical diseases.

During the last funding phase between 2017 and 2024, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has invested £73.3 million into the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), which collaborates closely with a range of UK academic and industry partners to develop medicines for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Following our last call for applications for funding Product Development Partnerships, DNDi applied successfully and has received an investment of £10 million in this financial year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which countries have had reductions in Official Development Assistance in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24; and what the total reduction is in each case.

The FCDO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for 2024/25 were published on 6 February 2025. We will publish final ODA programme spend for 2024/25 in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025. Equality impact assessments are an essential part of how we make decisions, including on ODA allocations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the social and economic impact of the British Council’s work on the UK’s soft power and international relations.

The British Council plays a leading role in promoting UK values and interests through its work in arts and culture, education, and promotion of the English language.The British Council's 2023 Global Perceptions report survey demonstrates that cultural relations initiatives are connected to higher levels of trust in the UK Government. The average score for trust in the UK Government given by young people surveyed in the G20 countries was 54%. However, for those who had participated in a UK cultural initiative, the score was 62%, and where this initiative was delivered by the British Council, it was 69%.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria were used to determine the regional and country-level allocations of Official Development Assistance for 2024-25.

The FCDO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for 2024/25 were published on 6 February 2025. We will publish final ODA programme spend for 2024/25 in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025. Equality impact assessments are an essential part of how we make decisions, including on ODA allocations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the British Council for supporting his Department’s objectives for UK soft power.

The British Council's Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the British Council's financial sustainability.The Government is committed to working with the British Council to ensure its financial sustainability. These issues are being considered in the round as part of the Spending Review process, which will allocate departmental budgets between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Official Development Assistance allocated to Afghanistan reaches people who are most in need.

The UK has a committed and responsible approach to supporting humanitarian aid and essential services for vulnerable Afghans. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is delivering £171 million in aid this financial year (2024-25) and remains committed that at least 50 percent of people reached are women and girls. UK aid is subject to strict monitoring and verification to ensure it is only used to help those in need. All funding is provided directly to implementing partners who are highly experienced at delivering in difficult circumstances. We do not give aid to the Taliban. We engage pragmatically with the Taliban to ensure continued access for humanitarian assistance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding has been allocated from the Official Development Assistance budget for conservation projects in the Falkland Islands.

The Falkland Islands are financially self-sufficient and do not receive Official Development Assistance. The UK Government has partnered with the Falkland Islands on several conservation projects including those supported through Defra's Darwin Plus programme. These include projects to restore native habitats, strengthen marine mammal management, and build capacity to respond to the threat of wildfires.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the effectiveness of the Government's humanitarian aid response in conflict-affected regions receiving Official Development Assistance.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to independently evaluating the relevance, effectiveness, impact, value for money and sustainability of its Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA programmes as required in the International Development Act (2015). The FCDO's Programme Operating Framework sets out the mandatory rules for FCDO programme delivery. This requires regular monitoring to provide performance and financial oversight and evaluate performance and impact. The Framework is published on GOV.UK and programme Annual and Closure Reviews are published on DevTracker.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment of changes to Official Development Assistance allocations in 2024-25.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will publish a list of (a) programmes and (b) countries that have had their budgets adjusted since July 2024 including the reasons for each adjustment.

The former Minister for Development set out the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for 2024/25 in a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS421) on 6 February 2025.We will publish the FCDO's final ODA programme outturn for 2024/25 in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025.We will set out our spending plans for future years following the completion of the Spending Review and departmental resource allocation processes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps is he taking to engage philanthropic organisations in (a) global nutrition and (b) food security investments.

The UK Government works closely with philanthropic organisations on food security investments and to deliver global nutrition outcomes.On global nutrition, we partner with the Gates Foundation and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, via the Child Nutrition Fund. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office co-chairs the Action Review Panel on Child Wasting which includes philanthropic organisations, to take action on acute malnutrition.On food security investments, the UK co-funds agricultural research with the Gates Foundation. Over the last 15 years this collaboration, drawing on UK science and expertise, has led to significant impacts including climate resilient nutritious crops and livestock vaccines for smallholder farmers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a longer-term funding model for the British Council.

The British Council's Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the British Council's financial sustainability.The Government is committed to working with the British Council to ensure its financial sustainability. These issues are being considered in the round as part of the Spending Review process, which will allocate departmental budgets between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to collaborate with African nations on the Kampala Declaration.

Through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Africa Food Trade and Resilience programme, we have been working with the Africa Union Commission on the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) process that led to the Kampala Declaration, including supporting the delivery of the Summit itself in January.This collaboration has been through our engagement in the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG) as well as working with African institutions to support the continent's food systems transformation. We will continue to strengthen our long term partnerships by working with African nations and institutions to progress their implementation of the Kampala Declaration and its objective to unlock growth through a stronger and more resilient African food and agriculture sector, that is also critical for our own and global supply chain security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase funding for food security and nutrition programmes in conflict-affected regions in Nigeria.

The UK is committed to tackling the important issue of food insecurity in Nigeria. Firstly, we are supporting the World Bank provide assistance to deliver essential nutrition services through health facilities. Secondly, the UK is supporting a nutritious and resilient food system by scaling the production and consumption of biofortified crops in Nigeria. Thirdly, the UK is incentivising domestic resource allocation for nutrition via investment in the Child Nutrition Fund which several states as well as the federal government have accessed matched funding through for key nutrition commodities. The UK recently contributed £7.4 million towards a wider $30 million match by the federal government for the scale up of essential services to prevent and treat malnutrition.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with multilateral development banks to better support small agrifood businesses in developing countries.

The UK works closely with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to influence policy discussions and investments in food and agriculture, including in support of small agrifood businesses and producer organisations, which are critical to building resilient local food systems and for inclusive growth. This includes engagement through initiatives like the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, which involves all relevant MDBs, and the Private Sector Financing Programme at the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to integrate nutrition initiatives with climate adaptation in its international development programs.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office reports annually in its Nutrition Accountability Report on the level of International Climate Finance (ICF) that is nutrition sensitive. Data is published two years in arrears and on most recent figures 3 per cent of UK ICF is nutrition sensitive. The UK continues to champion the integration of improved nutrition outcomes alongside policy objectives in other sectors including health, agriculture, humanitarian, and climate adaptation. The UK government is looking forward to the upcoming 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris and is working closely with the French government to call for the integration of nutrition into climate programming at the summit.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international partners on increasing humanitarian aid to Sudan and its neighbouring countries.

The UK is playing a leading role in response to the crisis in Sudan. Through a commitment of £226.5 million, we are delivering lifesaving aid to over one million people. Next month, the Foreign Secretary will convene Foreign Ministers in London to host an event marking the two year anniversary of the conflict. The event aims to increase international attention to the human cost of the conflict and to help deliver a more effective and scaled-up humanitarian response. The UK is doing all it can, in concert with our international partners, to address the crisis and its toll on the people of Sudan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide humanitarian support to Northwest Nigeria.

The UK's Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP) provides support to those in urgent need of assistance in the North-East of Nigeria, one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Through HARP, we have reached approximately one million people, reducing mortality and increasing resilience for people with the most severe humanitarian needs in the North-East, including those displaced by conflict and violence. We are also working closely and regularly engage the Government of Nigeria on the best ways to meet the challenge of rising displacement and growing humanitarian need.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle unregulated fishing activities in the South West Atlantic Ocean.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that fishing activities on the high seas in the South West Atlantic are appropriately regulated. This is necessary to safeguard stocks and their significant contribution to the Falkland Islands’ economy as well as the wider marine environment. Defra continue to liaise closely with the Falklands Islands Government on these issues, and to seek progress on addressing gaps in fisheries management and data collection within relevant international fora including the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to collaborate with (a) Médecins Sans Frontières and (b) other organisations to enhance healthcare access and resources for noma-affected regions.

The UK is committed to combating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and working with global partners towards achieving the global goal target to end the epidemic of NTDs by 2030, including for Noma. The UK is a signatory to the Kigali Declaration on NTDs and supports the World Health Organization (WHO's) roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030.The UK supports the WHO's work, including on NTDs. Other wider work that will also support reducing the prevalence and impact of Noma includes the department's support to strengthening country health systems, including in Noma prevalent countries such as Nigeria, and work to address factors associated with Noma such as malnutrition, other infectious diseases, and extreme poverty.