Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms her Department uses to assess the effectiveness of Official Development Assistance programmes.

As set out in the Programme Operating Framework (published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-programme-operating-framework) - all Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) programmes are required to have a monitoring framework and to report on performance through annual reviews.The FCDO Evaluation Policy requires publication of evaluation by default and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-evaluation-policy-2025.All planned, live and completed evaluations are registered on the Government Evaluation Registry.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how her Department measures the (a) economic and (b) social return on investment from British International Investment projects in partner countries.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her on 12 May in response to Question 49375.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that private investment in development funding is effectively leveraged.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her on 12 May in response to Question 49375.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase levels of (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the reporting to Parliament of British International Investment’s performance.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her on 12 May in response to Question 49375.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s commitments at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit are implemented through integration with (a) education, (b) immunisation, and (c) other relevant areas of development policy.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is a global leader in nutrition and continues to prioritise nutrition integration across sectors. At the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, the UK launched the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration, encouraging all 86 signatories to integrate nutrition into sectors such as education and health, for example through GAVI's Immunisation Nutrition Integration work. Since 2021 the FCDO has adopted a Nutrition Policy Marker, which prompts teams to consider nutrition objectives and integration during programme design. This is applied across programmes on early childhood development, food and agriculture, and social protection that are delivered bilaterally or through multilateral partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the UK's role in supporting private sector investment in global health initiatives.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her on 12 May in response to Question 49375.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans her Department has to publish (a) performance data and (b) impact evaluations of programmes funded through Official Development Assistance.

As set out in the Programme Operating Framework (published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-programme-operating-framework) - all Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) programmes are required to have a monitoring framework and to report on performance through annual reviews.The FCDO Evaluation Policy requires publication of evaluation by default and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-evaluation-policy-2025.All planned, live and completed evaluations are registered on the Government Evaluation Registry.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterparts on ongoing reports of (a) abduction and (b) forced marriage of Christian women and girls; and what steps she has taken to protect religious minority women in that country.

The UK Government condemns all violence against women and girls, including abduction and forced marriages, across Nigeria. Kidnapping for ransom is sadly a widespread practice in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest where banditry is prevalent, and communities of all religions and beliefs have been vulnerable. Through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), a Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAKFC) has been established to support cooperation between Nigeria's security and justice agencies. This is already operational and working to reduce the harm to victims and hold those responsible to account. On 11 November, the Minister for International Development and Africa discussed the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria during a meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. The UK's Forced Marriage Unit provides support to victims and those at risk of forced marriage, and advice to professionals through its public helpline and inbox, including in Nigeria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role her Department will have in reforming the (a) UN, (b) International Monetary Fund and (c) World Bank.

The UK supports the UN80 reform initiative and is working closely with the Secretary-General and member states to deliver meaningful reform. We are advocating for a bold vision of a UN that focuses once again on core tasks and maximum impact. The UK, as a major shareholder of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, will also continue to influence and shape these institutions in line with our modernised aid approach.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66929 on BBC World Service, whether any (a) specific programmes and (b) projects within the BBC World Service are under consideration for funding decisions in the autumn review.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 September to Question 70437.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 66919 on Development Aid: Drug Resistance, whether he plans to establish a fund to replace the Fleming Fund.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on maintaining the UK’s role in tackling antimicrobial resistance internationally.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing spending on Education, Gender and Equality on girls’ education.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 September to Question 72441.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason her Department reduced ODA spending on global health from £974.9 million in 2024–25 to £527.3 million in 2025–26; and whether that includes reductions to (a) pandemic preparedness and (b) maternal health programmes.

Our 2025/26 Official Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend on global health reflects multilateral payments which were brought forward to 2024/25 - including Gavi and the World Health Organisation (WHO) - to support effective ODA budget management across financial years.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of recent UK aid reductions on the delivery of (a) global health and (b) climate resilience programmes.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 September to Question 72441.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support partner countries impacted by the closure of the Fleming Fund.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how she plans to meet international commitments on (a) antimicrobial resistance and (b) global health security following the closure of the Fleming Fund.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of levels of antimicrobial resistance in regions previously supported by the Fleming Fund on global security.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of ending the Fleming Fund on the UK’s reputation in (a) global health and (b) international development.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to (a) replace and (b) replicate the work of the Fleming Fund in tackling antimicrobial resistance in (i) low- and (ii) middle-income countries.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.