§ Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of her Department's policies on accessibility and clean water supply in developing countries. [67514]
§ Clare ShortAccess to clear, safe, water is a major focus for our programme as it is crucial to health, agriculture and freeing women and girls' time for education and production. We are giving increased focus to water and sanitation in our work. Worldwide 1½ billion people benefited from improved water supply during the UN Decade for water but 1 billion still lack access to clean water and 3 billion to sanitation. It is estimated that by 2025 1 in 3 people will be living in countries subject to chronic water scarcity unless water resources are used more efficiently.