Access to basic sanitation and safe water is essential, so I agree that World Toilet Day raises crucial issues. I know that the Government appreciates the importance of this issue, and I am pleased that it is addressed in the Global Goals, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.
Goal six, addressing clean water and sanitation, included a number of targets. These included achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030. A further target was included, to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and to end open defecation.
I am pleased that UK investment in international development is already addressing these matters. DFID supports such access in a total of 25 countries, and in 2013/14 spent £163 million in the areas of water and sanitation.
Through such funding, 18.6 million people have been provided with access to drinking water, 19.5 million with access to sanitation, and 38.9 million have been reached with hygiene promotion. I fully support these efforts, and hope that they provide you with some reassurance.