Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Address specific linkages between nutrition and disability in the updated Disability Strategy.
Recommendation
We recommend the Government specifically address the linkages between nutrition and disability in the refresh of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy. We request the relevant section of the updated strategy is shared with the Committee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the linkages between nutrition and disability but has paused the refresh of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy due to ODA budget cuts, deferring consideration until after the multi-year Spending Review has concluded.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Partially Agree 16. The Government recognises the linkages between the prevalence of disability and inadequate nutrition. Children with disabilities suffer disproportionately higher rates of malnutrition yet are less likely to benefit from nutritional programmes. This is most often due to an interplay of factors including physical problems in feeding, a lack of knowledge or skills among caregivers regarding feeding practices, or broader societal causes related to neglect or stigma. Malnutrition itself can also cause life-long functional and cognitive impairment. 17. In February, the Prime Minister announced the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, to be funded by a reduction to ODA spending. Reducing the overall size of our ODA budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. It was therefore necessary to pause the refresh of our Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy. We will consider options for updating it once the multi-year Spending Review has concluded and our future priorities and resource allocation decisions on international development are clearer.