Development Minister today confirmed to MPs
that the Government does not intend to make any further cuts to
the UK's aid budget.
Appearing before the cross-party International Development
Committee, the Minister said that the Government's intention was
to increase aid spending over time and that she had “no reason to
think” that aid would be cut any lower than 0.3% of GNI.
In February, the Government announced plans to cut aid spending
from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI) from 2027, its
lowest level for decades, to fund a substantial increase in
defence spending.
She said the decision to make the cut was “a choice that has been
made, and a choice that we have to implement as best we can.”
also said that “the days
of viewing the UK Government as a global charity” were “over”,
and that the Government had to change how it approached
development. “For countries developing, we need to be an investor
and not just a donor. It's about partnership and not
paternalism.”
Asked about her plans for programmes focusing on women and girls,
the Minister said: “I can't promise to protect every good
programme, I just can't.”
She also said no final decision had been made on the UK's
contribution to the replenishment of several key multilateral
institutions: GAVI, the Global Fund and the World Bank's
International Development Association.
Responding to the session, MP, Chair of the
International Development Committee, said:
“I hoped to hear the Minister set out a clear vision today for
how she would deliver these cuts while maintaining the UK's
existing pledges. I am alarmed that, with the clock ticking,
there were no concrete commitments on what will be reduced and
what is saved.
We urgently need clarity; these are real people's lives, safety
and futures. More questions were raised than answered today. The
Minister recognising and prioritising our frontline staff and
committing to involving them in decisions is welcome, as is her
intention to maintain aid spending at 0.3% of GNI without further
reductions.
admitted that the
Government's change in direction was ‘a political choice'. But
choices have consequences. It appears that education and women
and girls are no longer priorities; this will have a serious
impact, not least to our international standing.
Ministers insist that the UK remains a key player on the world
stage. But I remain deeply concerned that we are laying down
tools just when we need to get to work.”
