To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce maternal morbidity in developing countries.

Reducing maternal ill-health is the most off-track MDG and therefore a priority in DFID's country and global-level work. DFID has committed to spend £6 billion up to 2015 on health systems strengthening. The UK strategy has four priorities: Advocacy: Scaling-up evidence-based interventions; addressing the social and economic barriers to maternal health and developing new knowledge.

Advocacy gives voice to disempowered and vulnerable women. Scaling-up expands health services and the availability of neglected high impact interventions, safe abortion and contraception. We also invest in increasing girls' education, improving women's rights and increasing research capacity in developing countries.