Overseas Aid (Private Sector Contracts)

Stephen Doughty Excerpts
Monday 11th March 2013

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Justine Greening Portrait Justine Greening
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I agree with my hon. Friend; indeed, so would the Indian Finance Minister, who said aid is the past, trade is the future. This is about ending aid dependency by driving growth and job creation.

Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)
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The Secretary of State may wish to correct the record on the private sector team: there has been one in DFID for a number of years. After the Budget next week, will the proportion of the 0.7% commitment spent by Departments other than DFID—if they meet it—be increased, and if so by how much? Will she also confirm that all our spending will be in line with the terms of the International Development Act 2002?

Justine Greening Portrait Justine Greening
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Our spending will be in line with the International Development Act 2002 and the ODA definition. The split of ODA across Departments can change. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have done a lot of work with the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence in conflict and in fragile states. We will continue to look at how we can do that effectively, but I think I am less interested in where ODA sits than I am in the impact it has on the ground. If he really cares about getting the most out of the budget we have got, I hope he will prioritise that over taking cheap political shots.