PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Developing Countries: Abortion (30 January 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department’s policy is on funding organisations that provide abortions that have (a) been found guilty of breaking the law and (b) ineffective procedures for addressing sexual misconduct.

Asked by:
Sir Edward Leigh (Conservative)

The Department for International Development is clear that we will not fund illegal activities. We take issues of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment extremely seriously and demand the highest standards from all organisations the department works with. We have put in place new, enhanced and specific safeguarding standards and new funding will not be approved unless our partners meet these tough standards. When organisations uncover issues, we must not penalise them for being transparent, but support effective due process in the handling of such allegations.

Answered by:
Alistair Burt (Conservative)
5 February 2019