Overseas Development Aid

Like so many here, I went into politics to make the world a better place and that means no-one should be left behind.

The importance of foreign aid is both practical as well as emotional. I recall as a new MP back in 2010 the pride of our manifesto commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on foreign aid. We achieved the target in 2013 and put it into law in 2015 as the first G7 nation to do so. It’s been a source of pride for our whole country.

But it was also clear at the time, that should circumstances change significantly, we may have to pause our commitment.

COVID has presented us with the most difficult economic position that we have faced in 300 years. Lives and livelihoods have been tested beyond measure, but thanks to our incredible vaccine programme and strong economic support from my RHF and the government, we WILL get through this. So when the Chancellor asked to see me to discuss my concerns about the temporary reduction in ODA I explained that whilst I understand the crisis we face, it is vital to me that we set out the point at which we will return to our 0.7% manifesto commitment.

So today I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement that we will return to the 0.7% once debt is falling, and we are not borrowing for day-to-day spending. I am reassured that the conditions will be determined by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, and that the Chancellor has confirmed that this situation is temporary.

Every Conservative government bases its commitments on a foundation of secure public finances. That gives us the confidence to invest, and in times of difficulty, like now, gives us the ability to maintain our commitments for the long term.

So today I am supporting the Government and I want to focus briefly on the overwhelmingly positive action we take in supporting the world’s most vulnerable.

Our government invested over £85m to develop the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine on the agreement that if the vaccine proved effective, it would be made available at cost to the entire world. More than half a billion doses have been made available so far to 168 countries, close to 300 million of which have been administered in low and middle-income countries. This isn’t a handout - it is a global triumph.

Contributing to overseas development is vital, and our leadership extends far beyond the cash we provide. It is through actions such as promoting 12 years of education for every girl, contributing to UN peace keeping missions, protecting precious habitats, and supporting disaster relief, that we continue to build on our commitment to a better, shared future for all.