Oral Answers to Questions

David Mowat Excerpts
Wednesday 30th January 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Mowat Portrait David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)
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4. What assessment she has made of the proportion of GDP spent on overseas aid by the UK compared to equivalent spending by France and Germany.

Alan Duncan Portrait The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Alan Duncan)
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In 2011, the UK spent 0.56% of GNI on official development assistance, or ODA. France spent 0.46% and Germany 0.39%. As I said a moment ago, we will reach our 0.7% ODA target this year. At the June 2012 European Council, France and Germany recommitted to spend 0.7% of their GNI on ODA by 2015.

David Mowat Portrait David Mowat
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I thank the Minister for that answer. As we have heard, we are on a trajectory to meet the 0.7% commitment, but that determination is not shown by all our EU partners. Can the Government do more to encourage them to meet previously made commitments?

Alan Duncan Portrait Mr Duncan
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The priorities we set are shared by EU countries, and some states—Sweden and Denmark, for example—have reached 0.7%. Germany’s aid increased by 2.6% in 2011, and it has publicly committed to reach 0.7% after 2015. The Government strongly urge other EU countries to follow our lead, and commit to and reach 0.7%.