Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he made an assessment of the implications for his policy of reducing the UK aid budget by almost 20 per cent of the recent OECD forecast of UK GDP in 2020 falling by 10.1 per cent.

As the Chancellor has set out, like many other nations across the world the UK is experiencing a severe economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review took place in order to ensure that the UK Government meets, but does not exceed, its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our national income on aid, which is enshrined in law, whilst ensuring that the continued focus of 0.7 per cent is on supporting the most vulnerable around the world and delivering the greatest possible impact.