Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Aid Budget Reduction: Humanitarian Impact

Tuesday 15 June 2021 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK will spend 10 billion in official development assistance in 2021, making it the third highest bilateral humanitarian donor country based on OECD data.
  • The Foreign Secretary confirmed a 430 million contribution to the Global Partnership for Education, a 15% increase from the previous year.
  • The UK remains the third largest donor in the G7 based on GNI, despite overall cuts to ODA.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Hannah Bardell SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK aid budget is being reduced, potentially affecting humanitarian efforts in developing countries.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential effect of reductions in the UK aid budget on UK humanitarian work overseas?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The UK will spend £10 billion in official development assistance in 2021, making us the third highest bilateral humanitarian donor country based on the OECD data.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a detailed assessment of potential effects on humanitarian work

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Q2 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Foreign Affairs
Context

UK aid cuts are affecting humanitarian assistance in conflict-stricken regions such as Yemen and Ethiopia, where millions face starvation.

Question

Can the Foreign Secretary confirm the size of the cut to UK aid for Ethiopia and tell the House what is planned to reduce hundreds of thousands of deaths from malnutrition?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I do not accept the proposition that he has put forward. We remain the third largest donor in the G7 based on GNI. The final figures come out through DevTracker as historically always been the case. For example, we made a £430 million contribution to the Global Partnership for Education.

Not addressed: Did not confirm size of cuts or measures against malnutrition deaths in Ethiopia

How: Changed Subject

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Q3 Steven Bonnar
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Prime Minister dismissed protests against cuts in development aid as 'lefty propaganda', ignoring severe consequences like starvation for millions.

Question

Can the Foreign Secretary recognize that aid cuts are not about politics but life and death, and will he now reconsider this decision to save lives?

Answer from Dominic Raab

We remain the third largest donor in the G7 based on GNI. We made the biggest ever donation to the Global Partnership for Education, raising billions from other partners towards education goals. We doubled bilateral spending on international climate finance and secured a billion more vaccines by mid-next year.

Not addressed: Did not address moral implications or commitment to reversing cuts

How: Changed Subject

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Q4 Martin Docherty SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK is shifting its focus towards integrating diplomacy and development in the Indo-Pacific, amid concerns over prioritizing aid to this region.

Question

Can the Foreign Secretary advise which areas or countries of the Indo-Pacific will receive priority investment despite cuts to overall ODA?

Answer from Dominic Raab

As historically always been the case, final figures come out through DevTracker. At the weekend, we made a £430 million contribution to the Global Partnership for Education—a 15% increase on last year that will affect many of the countries and regions described.

Not addressed: Did not specify prioritized areas or countries in the Indo-Pacific

How: Changed Subject

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Q5 Hannah Bardell SNP
Migrants & Borders Foreign Affairs
Context

Criticism of the UK government for cutting development aid, despite other G7 countries stepping up their contributions.

Question

At a time when poorest nations need support, does this Tory Government care? Do you know how the Foreign Secretary and his Government sleep at night knowing they have blood on their hands?

Answer from Dominic Raab

We are the third biggest ODA budget contributor in the G7. We made a global commitment on girls' education, doubling the average annual spend on international climate finance. We led the way with vaccine contributions and remain a leader in humanitarian spending.

Not addressed: Did not address moral concerns over aid cuts

How: Changed Subject

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Q6 Preet Kaur Gill Labour (Co-op) Birmingham Edgbaston
Foreign Affairs
Context

COVAX aimed to deliver 2 billion doses globally by the end of 2021, but only a small fraction has been shipped. The UK cut its aid budget while other countries increased theirs.

Question

Covax aimed to deliver 2 billion doses globally, but less than 5% have been shipped. With global vaccine shortages and inequitable access, does the Secretary of State agree that cutting aid made it harder for the PM to lead on vaccine strategy at G7?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Lady is mistaken; the G7 agreed 100 million doses by mid-next year, adding to the 1 billion already secured through COVAX, thus accelerating global vaccination.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether aid cuts affected UK's ability to lead on vaccine strategy

How: The Hon. Lady Is Mistaken

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Q7 Chris Law SNP Dundee Central
Foreign Affairs Benefits & Welfare
Context

Estimates suggest that the UK's recent aid budget cuts will result in more than a million child deaths globally.

Question

With widespread opposition to the aid cuts, does the Foreign Secretary commit to reversing them or is he willing to let these cuts lead to 1 million preventable child deaths?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Gentleman's language reflects more on him than the Government; we remain the third biggest G7 donor despite financial constraints.

Not addressed: Did not address whether aid cuts will lead to child deaths or if he will reverse them

How: The Hon. Gentleman'S Language Reflects More On Him Than The Government

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Q8 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Foreign Affairs
Context

A man-made famine is unfolding in Tigray with over 350,000 people living in famine conditions and 2 million at risk.

Question

How much humanitarian aid has the FCDO provided to Tigray? How much has been distributed? What action is being taken to secure and safeguard food aid distribution?

Answer from Dominic Raab

FCDO provided £22 million for support in Tigray; humanitarian access improved but still restricted. UK issued statements of concern at G7, working on ensuring withdrawal of Eritrean forces and investigating human rights abuses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify how much aid has been distributed or concrete steps to secure food aid distribution

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