Official Development Assistance

Baroness Sugg Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It certainly does present a challenge, as the UK and many other nations are making similar decisions about their ODA budgets. However, while it makes this more of a challenge, it does not mean that we give up, and the way that the noble Lord suggests that we direct our spend in future is pretty much what we are doing. We are focusing and pivoting more towards the multilateral system, because that is how you can leverage more funds and get better value and more impact in country, which we all want to see.

[Baroness Sugg (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister will know of my concern about the disproportionate impact that these cuts will have on women and girls. Will she agree to meet with me and a cross-party group of parliamentarians of both Houses who share my concern, when we return in September, to discuss working together to mitigate this?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I would be very happy to meet with the noble Baroness, especially given her track record on this agenda. She will have noted that we intend to integrate and mainstream our work on gender, particularly through our work on humanitarian and health priorities, and she will note the appointment of my noble and learned friend Lady Harman as our envoy on women and girls. I suggest that my noble friend is included in our discussions too.