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Autumn Statement 2022: Chair of International Development Committee challenges aid spend

17 November 2022

In today’s statement, the Chancellor has announced that the UK’s official development assistance (ODA) will be remain at 0.5% of the UK’s Gross National Income until fiscal rules have been met. The freeze on non-essential aid spending will be maintained. The Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy is also to be reviewed.

Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Committee, responded:

“Any revision of the Integrated Review must bring the Government’s focus back to the world’s poorest people. Aid commentators estimate the UK has almost doubled how much foreign aid is spent on in-country refugees compared to pre-pandemic levels. The UK is the only country in the G7 to fund all the costs of hosting Ukrainian refugees from its existing aid budget. Meanwhile, spending on non-essential aid is frozen.

“The Government has not cut the aid budget further and that is to be welcomed but whatever happens with the UK’s financial situation, ministers must keep the world’s poorest in mind and return the funding to 0.7 per cent accordingly. The Chancellor talked about compassion and in the closing days of COP27, we should not leave the world’s most vulnerable people wondering when their promised help will come – and from where.”

The International Development Committee has launched an inquiry into aid spending in the UK. Further details are available here

Further information

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