What assessment he has made of the impact of population growth on sustainable development; and if he will make a statement.

The world's population is anticipated to increase from 6.5 billion to 9 billion by 2050. Most of that growth will be in developing countries, particularly in towns and cities. It will undoubtedly put pressure on natural resources and services such as health and education.

The Secretary of State will be aware of dozens of examples, in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and, currently, China, where stabilising population growth results in improvements in their economy. The net result is sustainable development, with reductions in poverty and hunger and improvements in maternal health. Will he ensure that the principles of that success story are enshrined in his forthcoming White Paper?

First, I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman's work in the all-party group and I very much welcome the hearing that it is undertaking into this important issue. He makes an important point. In addition to the examples he gave, in Bangladesh, over two decades, average family size decreased from seven to three and a half, in particular because couples could choose when to have children, which links to an earlier question. I can assure him that continuing to support reproductive and sexual health services for people is one of the ways in which we can help to address the question of the globe's growing population.

Does the Secretary of State agree that the best way to tackle population growth is to tackle poverty? High birth rates are often a desperate response in families suffering from poverty.

I agree completely. If people have more choice about family size, if they have better incomes and more confidence in the future, all the evidence from around the world—the whole process of development over the past 200 years—shows that as family wealth increases, average family size decreases, so the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right.