Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made on the effect of the proposed reductions in Official Development Assistance on the UK’S contribution to multilateral funding bodies in (a) Syria and (b) the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UK is committed to spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance, which is enshrined in law. This means the aid budget increases when the UK economy grows and decreases if the economy shrinks.

Given the expected fall in GNI this year, aid spending is under review across all departments. No decision has been taken and we are considering the full range of our work.