Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development: Merger Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Boateng
Main Page: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Boateng's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(4 years, 1 month ago)
Lords ChamberAs the Prime Minister’s PSVI envoy and representative, I assure the noble Baroness that it remains a key priority for Her Majesty’s Government. I am sure she respects the fact that we have to look at the idea of next year for the conference in terms of the coronavirus pandemic and how we can organise any conference effectively. We are already committed to holding the COP 26 conference in November.
My Lords, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact has ensured the highest levels of transparency and aid effectiveness for DfID. Will the Minister give the House a clear undertaking that this will continue in the new department and that it will report to Parliament on the work and effectiveness of the new department?
The FCDO will remain accountable to Parliament in how it spends UK aid. I assure the noble Lord that we remain fully committed to issues of transparency in our aid spending. There will continue to be parliamentary and independent scrutiny of the aid budget.