Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that no foreign aid is spent on overseas farmers.

Internationally, agriculture and food systems play an important role in tackling poverty and hunger, addressing climate change and driving economic growth. They contribute to global food security and help ensure stable, sustainable and resilient global food markets to the benefit of British farmers, exporters and consumers.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) brings other direct benefits to UK farmers. For example, for each £1 the UK invests in CGIAR, the world's leading agricultural innovation organisation, UK farmers receive between £1.60 and £2.40 in benefits from the increased productivity of of the farming of wheat, dairy, beef and pulses.