Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for International Development (DfID) will remain autonomous, following the announcement in the recent reshuffle that junior DfID and Foreign and Commonwealth ministers will have joint responsibilities.

The PM appointed separate Secretaries of State for the Foreign Office and DFID in the recent reshuffle.

The Prime Minister has also appointed a fully joint junior ministerial team to ensure DFID and the FCO will work more closely overseas to deliver the Government’s objectives.

DFID ministers retain authority over decisions on DFID aid spending and accountability for all financial resources remains within existing departmental lines.