Committees

MPs hear from experts on real-world impact of aid cuts

17 March 2022

International Development Committee (IDC) takes evidence from international development organisations on the real-world impact of the Government’s far-reaching aid cuts.

Purpose of the Session

As part of its ongoing inquiry into the Future of UK Aid, the Committee will hold a session across two panels. The first panel will look at the impact of cuts to UK aid spending on women and girls, while the second will focus on minority groups and people with disabilities.

The Committee is also likely to explore the potential for the current crisis in Ukraine to put children at increased risk of trafficking.

This session follows IDC’s publication earlier this month of a leaked Government Equalities Assessment showing that the Government knew that women and girls, and others with protected characteristics, were more likely to be harmed by its far-reaching aid cuts.

IDC Chair Sarah Champion subsequently made a Point of Order in the House of Commons stating that the Committee had been obstructed in its pursuit of scrutiny. This followed the Government’s refusal to publish or provide access to the Assessment, and then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s assurances that it showed no evidence that people with protected characteristics would be more affected than other groups.

MPs are likely to seek witnesses’ views on the Assessment’s predictions for the impact of the Government’s aid cuts from 0.7% to 0.5% of GNI, including:

  • A reduction of services available to women and girls who are subject to sexual violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, with spending on programmes tackling violence against women and girls falling from £23.7m to £6m;
  • An estimated 60% reduction in spending on social protection programmes, providing support to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world, including people with protected characteristics;
  • A likelihood of significant cuts to programmes supporting disability-inclusive development.

Witnesses

Tuesday 22 March 2022, Grimond Room, Portcullis House

At 2.30pm

  • Katherine Nightingale, Head, Advocacy and Policy Team, CARE International UK
  • Kathleen Spencer-Chapman, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Research, Plan International
  • Naomi Gokwat, Programme Coordinator for Nigeria, Women for Women International

At 3.15pm

  • Hannah Loryman, Head of Policy, Sightsavers
  • George Graham, Chief Executive, Humanity & Inclusion UK

Further information

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