The International Development Committee has underlined its
support for the UK’s commitment to spending 0.7% of gross
national income on overseas development assistance, with a
primary focus on tackling poverty reduction.
In UK aid: allocation of resources, the Committee
reports that UK aid spending can be, and often is, a strong
investment contributing to create a more prosperous world, which
pays far-reaching dividends including to UK taxpayers at
home.
Foreign aid is the most scrutinised part of UK Government
spending. The Committee reports that DFID is effective in its
spending and that it has not seen evidence to suggest that DFID
suffers from poor or wasteful spending, any more than other
government departments or international donors.
The Secretary of State is challenged to tell the positive story
of UK aid. MPs say the Department must be proactive in
publicising the good work that results from the UK’s funding.
DFID must explain how it sets the balance between bilateral and
multilateral spending and should reconsider its decision to end
core support to civil society organisations.
While DFID spending on UK aid is effective, the Committee is
concerned about a lack of emphasis on strategy in the spending of
UK aid. This concern is amplified as the allocation of aid
spreads across government departments. The Committee believes
DFID should remain a standalone department with formal oversight
and co-ordination role for all UK aid spending.
The Chair of the Committee, MP, commented:
“The great need for development assistance globally and the
life changing opportunities it provides, including in a number of
ongoing abject humanitarian crises, has not changed. We reiterate
that tackling poverty reduction must be the primary purpose of
any aid spending.
“The 2015 UK aid strategy sought to
demonstrate how overseas development assistance is in the UK's
national interest. Through our inquiries in this Parliament, the
Committee has seen first-hand that this is true. UK aid spending
has allowed refugees fleeing the war in Syria to settle closer to
home, and has provided support to help create jobs and
livelihoods for those refugees, so that they did not have to make
dangerous journeys across Europe.
“However, the Department needs to publicise its good work to
a wider audience. DFID decisions on the allocation of resources
should be based on evidence.
“We are particularly concerned that a lack of strategic
direction is holding UK aid back. This is more important than
ever, with increasing amounts of aid being spent by government
departments other than DFID. The basis on which aid spending
decisions across the Government are made needs to be clear.
“It is absolutely right that Government demonstrates that
every penny is spent as effectively as possible. Supported by the
Independent Commission for Aid Impact and the National Audit
Office, the Committee’s primary function is to scrutinise
spending to ensure it achieves maximum benefit for beneficiaries
and the UK taxpayer. Our robust scrutiny of aid and development
expenditure will continue.”
