§ Ms McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's contributions to the provision of contraceptives in the developing world. [138526]
§ Mr. FoulkesWe are committed to the International Development target to attain universal access to reproductive health services before 2015. We have substantial involvement in efforts to ensure women and men in developing countries can access contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities.
Our recent pledge to contribute an additional £25 million to the United Nations Population Fund, on top of our annual core contribution of £15 million, will help meet immediate and short-term needs, and assure continued access to essential reproductive health commodities, including condoms for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention, in a number of countries which are facing shortages.
§ Ms McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to other donor Governments about the supply of contraceptives in the developing world. [138527]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe recent pledges by this Department and the Government of the Netherlands, to contribute an additional £51 million to the United Nations Population Fund to help fund immediate and short-term needs in developing countries for reproductive health commodities, is a further demonstration of the commitment of both Governments to the health of poor people.
We will continue to encourage other donors and developing countries to make every effort to meet the rising demand for contraception in the developing world.