Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Official Development Assistance

Tuesday 15 September 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Her Majesty's Treasury is responsible for the allocation of ODA across all Government Departments.
  • Individual Departments are responsible for ensuring that ODA money spent meets OECD DAC criteria.
  • Pauline Latham inquired about ensuring ODA is focused on relieving poverty.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Pauline Latham Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

The issue concerns the distribution of ODA across various government departments, not just the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Question

Whether he is responsible for the allocation of official development assistance to Government Departments other than the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Answer from Steve Barclay

Yes, Her Majesty's Treasury is responsible for the allocation of ODA across all Government Departments. The comprehensive spending review will determine all ODA budgets.

Answered
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Q2 Pauline Latham Con
Context

Concern about ensuring that all ODA funds meet the criteria and are specifically aimed at poverty reduction.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, but how can we ensure that all money spent qualifies for ODA categorisation and is particularly focused on relieving poverty?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I know my hon. Friend takes a close and expert interest in this issue, not least through her work on the relevant Select Committee. Individual Departments are responsible for ensuring that all money spent as ODA meets the criteria of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, and that it is spent through the powers of the International Development Act 2002, which requires funding likely to contribute to a reduction in poverty.

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