AT the G7 meeting last week, the leaders of the world’s leading economies pledged $15 billion to support girls’ education around the world, and help more women access jobs and build businesses.

Last month I was asked me about the money we spend overseas supporting girls education and how our work to improve girls’ education across the globe would benefit my constituents here in Braintree.

The Prime Minister has described girls’ education as “the Swiss Army knife that solves a multitude of the World’s problems”. Evidence shows educated girls have smaller families, help economic growth in their countries, and even reduce the chances of conflict. You may still ask: “What’s that got to do with me?”

Dealing with mass illegal migration is difficult, distressing for everyone involved, and very expensive.

It is in our national interest to dissuade people from making the dangerous journey to our shores, often in the hands of evil, predatory people smugglers. It saves lives and saves money.

Helping make poorer countries economically successful and safer means people are less likely to flee from them.

The UK will soon donate Covid-19 vaccine doses to poorer parts of the world too.

Our vaccine roll-out has been one of the best in the world.

Now all adults can now get themselves vaccinated.

As a minister in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, I have been working to ensure the swift and efficient global distribution of the vaccine.

It is in everybody’s interest that the vaccine reaches as far and wide as possible, to every corner of the globe, so that we can consign the pandemic to history. It also means that so we can start travelling again, whether for work or pleasure.

We have learnt how important it is to work together with our global allies to beat the virus. However, we must not only concentrate on saving lives, but improving quality of life too. It’s good for the world and it’s good for us.