Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Mitchell and Chris White

Wednesday 16th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Chris White (Warwick and Leamington) (Con)]

11. What progress his Department is making on transferring aid from middle-income states to developing countries in greatest need.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

We have a clear responsibility to ensure that we target our aid where it is most needed and where it will have the greatest impact. I will shortly announce to the House the outcome of our major root and branch review of bilateral aid, which looked in detail at each country.

[Chris White]

Although I strongly support the Government’s decision to stop aid to China, can my right hon. Friend explain what impact that will have on his ability to engage with China on development issues?

[Mr Mitchell]

My hon. Friend is right to say that the coalition made it clear on day one that we would end all aid to China and Russia, but we need to have a powerful and reinvigorated partnership with China on development issues, not only in the areas where we share deep concerns, such as on freeing up the trading system and on climate, but in working in third countries. For example, Britain is working with China now in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a major infrastructure roads programme. We are doing that work together and it is extremely effective and successful.