Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has commented on the temporary reduction in the UK’s aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of our national income.
As part of the Spending Review, which you can read about here, the Chancellor announced the temporary reduction in the overall amount the UK currently spends on international aid. The temporary reduction is due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the UK Government to make tough but necessary decisions and, once the economic situation allows for it, the aid budget will return to 0.7% of our income.
The UK government remains a world leading aid donor spending 0.5% of its national income, which will amount to over £10 billion next year to fight poverty, tackle climate change and improve global health. The Government’s commitment to spend 0.5 per cent is considerably more than the 29 countries on the OECD’s development assistance committee – who average 0.38 per cent of their national income. The UK’s contribution to the OECD will remain higher than France, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States.
The Foreign Secretary has set out how we will overhaul UK aid to deliver even greater impact by focussing on 7 global challenges where it can make the most difference:
- climate change and biodiversity: a greener and cleaner path to growth in developing countries
- COVID and global health security: combat COVID-19 and support healthier and more resilient populations in developing countries
- girls’ education: a global commitment to get 40 million girls into education and 20 million more girls reading by the age of 10
- science, research, technology: deliver cutting edge technology and research-led solutions in health, education, resilience, low carbon technologies, agriculture and economic development, conflict and poverty
- open societies and conflict resolution: strengthen democratic institutions, human rights, free media and effective governance
- humanitarian preparedness and response: Lead stronger collective international response to crises and famine
- trade and economic development: build trading and investment partners of the future
Commenting, Richard said:
“At this absolutely critical time, it is right that the UK Government prioritises our domestic emergency – focusing on UK jobs, livelihoods and the public services on which we all rely.
“This is not the UK stepping back from our commitments on the world stage – we are still contributing a huge amount globally, and we will return to spending 0.7% on international aid once we are able to.
“I welcome the Chancellor’s Spending Review as it prioritises fighting the virus, delivering the promises that the Conservative Government has made and investing in our country.”
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