Labour has today called on the Government to put their decision
to cut the aid budget to a parliamentary vote at the earliest
opportunity.
In November the Government committed to bringing forward
legislation regarding their decision to cut the aid budget. They
have since rowed back on that commitment.
Last week the Government published its overarching areas of focus
for UK aid in 2021.
, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for
International Development, in response to the Urgent
Question today to the Minister for the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office, said:
***CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY***
Last week the Foreign Secretary exposed his fear of scrutiny by
trying to sneak out a written statement on his callous aid cuts
Today, having been forced to come to face up to his decisions by
the right honourable member for Sutton Coldfield, he has once
again evaded scrutiny and hidden behind one of his ministers
instead.
Make no mistake, slashing humanitarian support in the middle of a
global pandemic is callous and incredibly short-sighted.
People will lose their lives as a result of the cuts and we will
all be less safe.
As the only G7 nation to cut aid, it is a retreat from our moral
duty and will weaken our position on the world stage.
The statement last week was light on detail so can the minster
tell us whether ambassadors have been informed of their allocated
budgets and the date when all FCDO country office budgets for
2021 will be made public?
Can he tell us whether impact assessments for each country will
be conducted and when they will be forthcoming?
Can he explain the Foreign Secretary’s comments that “no one is
going hungry because we haven't signed cheques” given that
16-million Yemenis and 12 million Syrian people are on the brink
of famine and how he thinks the respective 60 per cent and 30 per
cent cuts in aid will impact on people in those countries?
The impact of the cuts on his government’s own stated priorities
are stark:
From education which has been cut by 40 per cent.
To health programmes like the IRC’s ‘Saving Lives in Sierra
Leone’ which has helped over three million people and now been
cut by 60 per cent.
In a year when Britain will be hosting the G7 and COP26 this is a
shameful act and part of a pattern of retreat from the world
stage by this Conservative government
So, rather than continuing to treat parliament with contempt,
will he commit to putting these cuts to a vote at the earliest
opportunity?
Ends
Notes to editors:
· Commitment to bring forward legislation by the Foreign
Secretary, November 2020 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-26/debates/A2442925-0DA2-4262-B564-1C6FEE24881A/OfficialDevelopmentAssistance
