Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alan Duncan and Chris Ruane

Wednesday 12th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

4. How her Department plans to reach the Government’s target of spending 0.7% of gross national income on development aid by 2015.

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Alan Duncan)]

The Government are committed to spending 0.7% of gross national income on development assistance from 2013 and thereafter. The Department’s budget after the 2012 autumn statement adjustment is sufficient to meet this commitment, along with planned official development assistance from other Government Departments.

[Mr Duncan]

The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the Government will introduce legislation to make this a legal requirement as soon as parliamentary time allows. As evidence of good faith, the hon. Gentleman should notice that we are behaving as if the legislation were already in place, and we will meet the 0.7% commitment.

[Chris Ruane]

What is the Minister’s assessment of the implications of the decrease in absolute spending on development announced in the autumn statement?

[Mr Duncan]

The effect is to reduce the immediate planned budget by £804 million—a reduction of about £2 billion since the original spending review period. We will, of course, make adjustments to make sure that our spending within those reduced figures retains the value for money that we see as such a high priority.