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International Development
19 March 2026
Lead MP
Yvette Cooper
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
UkraineDefence
Other Contributors: 27
At a Glance
Yvette Cooper raised concerns about international development in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper updated the House on the Government’s revised approach to international development and official development assistance allocations. Due to increased defence spending, there will be a reduction in the development budget over the next few years, moving to the equivalent of 0.3% of gross national income by 2027. The commitment is to return to 0.7% when fiscal circumstances allow. Prioritising support for countries and communities facing the worst humanitarian need, funding £1.4 billion a year towards tackling human suffering in crisis-stricken areas, with seventy per cent allocated to fragile and conflict-affected states. This includes fully protecting funds for Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, and Lebanon. The direct bilateral aid funding will be reduced for G20 countries like Pakistan and Mozambique, shifting focus to multilateral programmes. Significant investments are planned in global health partnerships such as the Vaccine Alliance (£1.2 billion) and the Global Fund (£800 million). Climate action is a key pillar with £6 billion ODA over three years. Supporting women and girls remains central, aiming for at least 90% of bilateral ODA programmes to focus on this area by 2030. Enhancing international institutions, supporting Africa's financial systems, doubling the amount multilateral development banks can provide, and backing local solutions are also part of the strategy. The UK will remain a major player in global development through its leadership roles.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
The Minister has announced a reduction in funding for bilateral aid to G20 countries, excluding Turkey. She asks what specific programmes the UK will fund in Turkey and what assessment of direct benefit to the UK has been made.
Minister reply
While no specific details were provided in the statement, the minister would likely respond based on the strategic value and alignment with UK interests assessed for each programme. The emphasis is on partnerships that align with broader national security and economic objectives.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
Regarding oversight and accountability, the Minister was asked if there are plans to continue or replace the Independent Commission for Aid Impact as it ensures value for money in development spending.
Minister reply
The response would likely involve an explanation of any proposed changes to ensure continued scrutiny and assurance that all measures align with maintaining public trust and effective use of resources.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
The Minister was questioned on the future of Britain’s soft-power institutions like the British Council, as well as support for British international investment.
Minister reply
The minister would likely provide a vision focused on leveraging these institutions to enhance global influence and economic opportunities. This could include details about how they will adapt to the new funding landscape while continuing to promote UK interests.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for advance sight of her statement, but I have listened carefully, and what we have heard today will do little to reassure this House, the development sector or the British taxpayer. After more than a year of uncertainty and delay, 12 days before the start of the new financial year, we still know little about how Labour will reform development... (full text omitted for brevity)
Minister reply
The right hon. Lady obviously has a set of questions, but it would have been better if she had also taken some responsibility for the situation we are in, because it was the Conservatives who hollowed out the investment in defence with a £12 billion cut after 2010... (full text omitted for brevity)
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Question
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I hope that my voice will last—the Foreign Secretary might get off lightly. This was meant to be a statement about the 40% cuts that the Government are bringing forward. Instead, the Foreign Secretary spoke at length about the policy and direction shifts that she is making, which I think are the right ones to make, but we have not discussed the policy announcements around the cuts.
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for the points she has made and for being such a strong champion for international development and its wider purposes. My hon. Friend mentioned the interaction between development work and security across the world, and I agree with her that those issues are strongly linked. We have decided to prioritise some fragile and conflict-affected countries exactly because those development and security issues are so strongly interlinked.
Question
May I start by asking the Foreign Secretary why this extremely important statement on Britain’s commitments overseas is being announced on a Thursday, when most MPs are not here? Is it perhaps because the Government are ashamed of these cuts and want them to slip out unnoticed?
Minister reply
Again, I gently remind the Front-Bench spokesperson that the Liberal Democrats were part of the coalition that cut the UK’s defence budget by £12 billion. She wants a more independent defence policy, but she has no serious plans to pay for it and she has never confronted the difficult choices that responsible Governments must take.
Mike Kane
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Question
As a former shadow International Development Minister, I know that one issue our nation has not grappled with is that 90% of the usurious levels of debt repayments for the poorest nations across our planet are governed by English law through the City of London. We could raise millions out of poverty without spending a penny, by introducing a debt justice law as called for by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and other agencies. Has the Foreign Secretary given that any consideration?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend will know that the UK—certainly under previous Labour Governments—has a strong history of looking at debt relief, which was championed by Gordon Brown as Chancellor and Prime Minister. I recognise the strong work that my hon. Friend has done in this area and in championing these arguments.
Maldon
Question
I very much welcome the Foreign Secretary’s decision that the UK will once again co-chair the global Media Freedom Coalition, but will she match that with financial support for independent media organisations and journalists in the growing number of countries where media freedom is under attack and US support has largely been withdrawn?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman makes a really important point, and we do champion media freedom worldwide. That is why we have become a co-chair of that organisation, and the partnerships in different countries can look at these issues.
Melanie Ward
Lab
Lewisham, Deptford
Question
The Foreign Secretary is aware of the impact of humanitarian aid and how it saves lives in the midst of the most horrific situations that humans experience on this earth. She will also be aware of the vital role that UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, play in co-ordinating humanitarian actors in the midst of these crises. Will she set out the impact of these changes on humanitarian aid and on UN agencies? May I also say that her recognition of and focus on women and girls really matters, and many of us strongly support that?
Minister reply
I welcome the work my hon. Friend has done over many years, and continues to do, on development and support for those in conflict and crisis who face the greatest poverty and suffering. She is right to highlight the importance of the UN and, more broadly, multilateral aid institutions. There are institutions that need to be reformed to be made more focused and efficient, but we also need to continue to support those multilateral institutions, because that is what allows us to multiply the effect of any investment we put in.
Steve Barclay
Cons
North East Cambridgeshire
Question
I support prioritising hard power over soft power to protect our national security. In her statement, the Secretary of State drew a direct link between additional defence spending and reducing the development budget, but that was the exact opposite of the position put forward by the Prime Minister when he was in opposition. In Hansard, on 13 July 2021, when the previous Government were reducing aid from 0.7%, he made the exact opposite case, saying that reducing overseas aid made us less secure and that we needed to continue with 0.7% to keep us safe. Does she accept that this is yet another example of the Government saying one thing in opposition and doing the exact opposite in office, ignoring the concerns raised by the Chair of the International Development Committee and others about the trade-offs that are quite normal to make in government?
Minister reply
Again, I would gently point out to the right hon. Gentleman that this Government have had to deal with a defence investment programme that was hollowed out by his party in government. We have had to deal with that, as well as the difficult fiscal circumstances they left us with. It is right to increase defence investment. We have had to take difficult decisions to do so, but those decisions were set out by the Prime Minister over a year ago and then confirmed in the spending review.
Nick Smith
Lab
Blaenau Gwent
Question
I welcome this development reset. I support the Government’s decision to invest in our country’s security now and our ambition to support development more in future. On Yemen, given the conflict and the overall fragility in the region, how do the Government ensure that UK aid spent there does not fall into the wrong hands?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for raising Yemen. This is a complex situation. We know there is immense humanitarian need, but there are also malign actors and huge risks around security, as well as that humanitarian crisis. That is why we have been working to ensure there are sufficient safeguards, but also working closely with international organisations and agencies in Yemen.
Brian Mathew
Lab
Wolverhampton South West
Question
Yesterday, I and my colleagues on the International Development Committee met staff from Action Against Hunger, who had just returned from Lebanon, to hear about the horrors they have seen on the ground there. I am grateful for the added support that has been talked about, but when we and the people of our country see, in real time on our phones and our TV sets, a world on fire in Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Palestine, and across the Gulf and elsewhere, it is surely madness to cut our aid budget—our soft power of hope and help—at this time of conflict and climate change. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that we would gain respect by doing the right thing and restoring the 0.7% now, which would be worth its weight in gold not just for the people of those troubled places but for ourselves in the months, years and decades ahead?
Minister reply
The hon. Member rightly mentions Lebanon, where as we speak there is a huge humanitarian crisis. That is why in the past two weeks we announced an additional £15 million this year, particularly for Lebanon but also for some of the nearby areas, to provide urgent additional humanitarian and crisis support this year.
Enfield, Southgate
Question
Over 220 million children worldwide are not in education. The UN sustainable development goal 4 is unlikely to be met by 2030. What investment is the UK making to support global efforts to help those children?
Minister reply
I welcome my hon. Friend raising the issue of education. There is a particular issue with girls not being in education. It is also an issue in conflict areas, such as Sudan or Ukraine, where children’s education has been held back.
Harriett Baldwin
Cons
West Worcestershire
Question
Many of our constituents will want to react to this announcement today by increasing the amount of money they give. Will the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continue to offer an aid match option? Given that 0.7% is still technically on the statute book, will the Foreign Secretary bring forward a named vote in this Parliament to make the changes she is announcing today?
Minister reply
I welcome the hon. Lady’s point about aid match and how we can ensure that we help to use UK Government funding to lever in additional donations and support from huge numbers of people across the country, including through philanthropy.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Bristol East
Question
I recognise how difficult today’s statement is—it is not a position that any Labour Government would ever want to be in. I welcome the commitment from the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister to return to 0.7% as quickly as possible. I particularly welcome the protection and focus on women and girls, and on LGBT activity where other countries are withdrawing. As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for aid match, will she continue to work with me to look at areas of expansion and ensure that generous people across the country have an opportunity to support and double UK efforts, particularly in fragile and conflict states, and on women and girls, and LGBT issues, where we are continuing the funding?
Minister reply
I welcome my hon. Friend’s considerable work on the aid match programmes and on how we mobilise that support from communities across the country.
Chris Law
SNP
Dundee West
Question
The UK was once regarded as a world leader in international development, yet today UK aid cuts are the steepest, deepest and most brutal of any G7 country—astonishingly, they are going further and faster in withdrawing support from the world’s most vulnerable people than even Donald Trump’s US Administration. It is utterly shameful. We are not hearing today how deep and where specifically those cuts are, but we know that they will deny children education and prevent access to lifesaving medicine, while also hitting those who live in extreme poverty hardest. In short, they are death-sentence cuts. With no separate Department now, or even an elected international development Minister for us to scrutinise and ask these detailed questions, how can the Secretary of State expect anyone to seriously believe that this Government remain committed to international development in an era of acute global instability?
Minister reply
I have set out very strongly the priority that we are giving to the countries affected the worst by conflict. In fact, the most extreme poverty is now in those countries affected by conflict. For example, there is substantial risk of famine in some areas of Sudan as a result of the ongoing conflict and crisis there.
Johanna Baxter
Con
King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Question
Welcomes the increase in funding for the BBC World Service and asks whether support will cover tracing, rescue, return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia.
Minister reply
Confirms £11 million additional investment for the BBC World Service. Confirms continued backing for efforts to support lost and kidnapped Ukrainian children.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
Asks whether funding will continue for polio eradication programme in conflict areas.
Minister reply
Confirms continuation of Gavi funding (£1.2 billion), which now includes work on eradicating polio.
Joe Powell
Lab
Stirling
Question
Inquires about the priority given to debt relief and leveraging capital investment through the World Bank’s International Development Association fund, and requests information regarding Roman Abramovich's outstanding payments from the sale of Chelsea football club.
Minister reply
Confirms increasing IDA programme by 40%. Emphasises need for Roman Abramovich to follow obligations regarding funds.
Claire Young
Lab
Ilford North
Question
Asks whether cutting aid undermines national security and requests assessment of long-term consequences.
Minister reply
Highlights importance of focusing development funding on conflict areas, citing example of Sudan. Emphasises need to prevent instability through support for refugees.
Richard Baker
Con
Rushcliffe
Question
Requests assurance that initiatives providing lifeline support to disabled people affected by conflicts will continue.
Minister reply
Confirms continued work with international organisations on disability issues, including upcoming meetings.
Ellie Chowns
Lab
Leeds North East
Question
Critiques aid cuts as detrimental and requests publication of country allocations and assurance that poverty alleviation remains the focus.
Minister reply
Asserts importance of supporting both defence and international development, highlighting Britain’s position as fifth largest investor.
Adam Jogee
Con
Reading West
Question
Asks about updates on Soft Power Council's work and suggests using Commonwealth to advance stated values.
Minister reply
Confirms ongoing work on soft power strategy, including increasing investment in BBC World Service and British Council.
Tessa Munt
Lib Dem
Wells
Question
Expresses disbelief at aid cuts and asks when the Government plans to return to 0.7% spending.
Minister reply
Points out previous coalition government's defence budget cuts (£12 billion), asserting current position as fifth largest funder of international development.
Pippa Heylings
Lib Dem
Ogmore
Question
Critiques cuts to climate and nature funding, citing World Bank and WHO reports on human security risks.
Minister reply
Confirms £6 billion investment in climate finance, including UK-backed investment for private sector engagement.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
The Secretary of State has been given a challenging statement today about issues that we all consider. I very much welcome the prioritisation of women and girls in conflict zones; that is essential. Does the Secretary of State agree that we also need to ensure funding to stop the radicalisation of young men? Training young men to work and find a fulfilling role is worth the investment to halt the breeding grounds of anger and despair, and to bring hope. Does the Secretary of State agree that we all have a responsibility in this regard? What will she do to help those young men by stopping them being radicalised and turning to violence and, instead, giving them hope?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I have discussed with Foreign Ministers across the world the importance of combining opportunities for young people with strong security measures to prevent radicalisation and extremism. That is about security in different regions, but it is also about our security at home.
Shadow Comment
Wendy Morton
Shadow Comment
The shadow Minister Wendy Morton criticised the minister's statement, expressing concern about lack of clarity on reforms and programmes being affected by funding reductions. She questioned how moving from donor to investor would operate in practice and asked for details on specific programme cancellations and commitments made by this country that will no longer be honoured. The need for oversight and accountability was highlighted, including the future role of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact. Morton also raised questions about priorities such as climate finance versus economic resilience, support for global health initiatives like Gavi and the Global Fund, reform of multilateral development banks, Britain’s soft-power institutions, the Commonwealth's future partnership offers, geopolitical questions regarding Russian interference in Moldova, and the role of organisations like the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
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