A number of constituents have contacted me about World Water Day, which seeks to raise awareness of access to clean water in developing countries.
I completely agree that clean drinking water and effective sanitation is vital to the livelihood of developing countries, and the Government has worked hard to ensure Britain is contributing to this effort. Between 2011 and 2015, the Department for International Development (DfID) helped 62.9 million people, including 22.2 million women, access clean water by helping build wells, standpipes, pumps, toilets and sewage systems, and encouraging the private sector in developing countries to do more. My colleagues are intent on matching this success by helping at least another 60 million people get access to clean water by 2020, stopping terrible diseases and boosting economic opportunity.
As one of the Global Goals adopted in 2015, the UK is committed to improving water and sanitation for everyone. The global community must work to achieve these goals by 2030, so that in the next 15 years we see access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all, particularly women and girls. A more healthy, productive and prosperous world is clearly in our national interest, and access to water and sanitation is a key part of this.