Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government plans to publish its plans for (a) parliamentary and (b) independent scrutiny of the UK’s aid budget.
(a) With the formation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office, the House of Commons may wish to reconfigure the select committee structure. We will reflect carefully on the recommendations of the International Development Committee and the Liaison Committee before bringing forward motions on committee structures for the House to agree later in the year.
b) This Government is committed to transparency and robust scrutiny of Official Development Assistance expenditure. On 29 August, the Foreign Secretary announced that the Independent Commission for Aid Impact will continue its vital role scrutinising UK aid.