Minister to give evidence on what FCDO cuts mean for UK’s future development work
The International Development Committee will question the Minister for International Development as part of its inquiry examining what FCDO cuts will mean for future of UK’s development work.
The inquiry is focused on how the UK should be prioritising high impact international aid and development assistance in the face of a 40% budget cut as the Government seeks to fund increased defence spending in the name of national security.
Baroness Chapman faces MPs having previously said the UK will now be an “investor” rather than a “donor,” with a shift from providing grants to providing expertise.
Meeting details
The Committee will explore why it was decided that the shift from grants to expertise would be an appropriate and cost-effective one, and what discussions have taken place with other departments.
MPs will also focus on ministerial oversight of the restructuring of the FCDO as part of the FCDO 2030 programme. Here, the Minister could be asked whether she has taken steps to ensure that key development expertise is not lost and whether the Government has a strategy to improve public confidence in its international development and relief work.
MPs will also use the session to explore the recently appointed Foreign Secretary’s priorities. This could mean asking what reprioritisation in geographical or thematic focus has taken place since Yvette Cooper assumed office, and how issues relating to women and girls will be mainstreamed across the department’s work.