Official Development Assistance

Margaret Ferrier Excerpts

Thursday 26th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

We now have audio link only, as there is a problem with the proper link, to Margaret Ferrier.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind) [V]]

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

“International aid saves lives. It supports the world’s most fragile and it gives the world hope.”

Those are not my words, but the words of just one of many constituents who have contacted me to express their anger and sadness at the decision to reduce the international aid budget to 0.5% of GDP. Has the Foreign Secretary carried out an impact assessment identifying how many lives could be lost as a result of slashing assistance to some of the world’s poorest countries?

[Dominic Raab]

We will still be spending £10 billion next year. I will run an allocation process that allows all the other Departments that bid for aspects of ODA to scrutinise these things very carefully to mitigate precisely the risks that the hon. Lady talked about.