Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the reduction in Overseas Development Assistance on the Government’s ability to help deliver 2030 targets for UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Integrated Review reaffirmed our commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Following a thorough review, the FCDO's aid budget has been allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities, which are closely aligned with the SDGs, against a challenging financial climate of COVID. Officials considered any impact on women and girls, the most marginalised and vulnerable, people with disabilities and people from other protected groups, when developing advice to Ministers.

COVID makes the challenge of achieving the SDGs even harder. Aid cannot do it alone. Mobilisation of domestic resources and private finance is critical, as has always been the case. The UK is demonstrating leadership on the SDGs, as one of the largest donors to the international response tackling COVID-19. And we will use our COP26 and G7 Presidencies this year to reinforce the importance of the SDGs on the global stage.