Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Mitchell and Stephen Pound

Wednesday 13th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab)]

6. What timetable he has set for the introduction of legislation to provide that 0.7% of gross national income is spent on official development assistance.

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

The coalition Government have set out in the comprehensive spending review how we will meet our commitment to spend 0.7% of national income as overseas aid from 2013. We have made it clear that we will enshrine that commitment in law as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

[Stephen Pound]

I thank the Secretary of State for that comprehensive answer, and I wish that all his Cabinet colleagues were quite as enthusiastic and as committed. But can he give us a firm date, as “in the fullness of time” simply is not good enough in these circumstances?

[Mr Mitchell]

The hon. Gentleman, who is enormously experienced in the ways of Parliament, will know that that is not a matter for me as the Secretary of State for International Development; it is a matter for the business managers and the usual channels. I suggest that he refers his question, on an appropriate occasion, to one of them.