Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2021 to Question HL11567 on Overseas Aid: Charities, what assessment he has made of the role of small UK-based international development charities in helping his Department meet its seven core development priorities as part of preparing Official Development Assistance budgets for 2021-22; what plans he has to engage with civil society organisations on those budgets.

Civil society organisations have a significant role to play in delivering the seven core priorities. We recognise the unique role played by small UK-based international development charities in understanding and connecting with local communities and delivering support to the most marginalised and vulnerable, including during the latest COVID-19 crisis.

We will share further information with civil society organisations to start working through implications of decisions once they are taken, and we intend to work closely with our partners to implement any changes.