Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the 0.3% of Gross National Income figure for official development assistance is a (a) target figure or (b) minimum budget spend.

We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of Europe. The peace dividend we have enjoyed for the past years is over and we need to raise defence spending to keep the UK safe. In order to remain committed to our fiscal rules, the government has taken the difficult decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) to fund this defence spending increase.

We will fund ODA spending to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI by 2027.

The Government remains committed to international development and to returning ODA to 0.7% of GNI when fiscal conditions allow but will adopt a measured approach in the interim. The UK will continue to be a champion for development finance, championing innovation and pushing for reforms of the international financial architecture to support vulnerable countries.