Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of concerns expressed by UK non-governmental organisations in response to comments by the Secretary of State for International Development that the global aid system would be built on "some core Conservative principles".

At the Conservative Party Conference the Secretary of State for International Development made clear the principles under which she will lead the Department for International Development (DFID). She made clear that her priority is to provide people with an opportunity to make the most of their talents and fulfil their potential. She stated that the UK should be proud of the support given to changing lives and creating opportunities in countries that are less fortunate than the UK and that her mandate was to challenge, change and reform the global aid system so that it delivers more for those it is meant to help - the world’s poorest.

These are aims which DFID will continue to partner with UK NGOs to deliver.