The Secretary of State for International Development was asked about the decision to end bilateral aid to South Africa. The Committee Report concluded and criticised DFID for ending bilateral aid programmes without robust review. The Secretary of State did not convince the International Development Committee that the announcement to end the programmes in India and South Africa were in accordance with the principles and process established by the BAR. Such decisions to end a bilateral programme or to start a new one should be made only following a Bilateral Aid Review, except in exceptional cases.