Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Government's assessment of merging DFID with FCO before February 2020.
What assessment did the Government make regarding the potential merits of merging the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office prior to announcing the integrated review on 26 February 2020?
Both the merger and the integrated review are evidence of this Government's commitment to a unified British foreign and development policy that will maximise our impact around the world, project our values and be a stronger force for good—they go hand in hand.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Bond network claims no prior consultations, questioning the legitimacy of integrated review.
The Bond network says it was not consulted on this merger. Will the Government commit to meeting Bond and other CSOs so they can inform the new Department's aid priorities?
Baroness Sugg leads in the Department in meeting the CSOs, and there are regular meetings ongoing. The integrated review is working over the summer to pull together the key issues, and development is an absolutely critical strand within that.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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MP challenges previous statement that there was extensive consultation before the merger announcement.
Last week, I asked about consultations with partner organisations and NGOs before the merger announcement. The Secretary of State said Parliament was first informed, followed by ongoing consultations. This contradicts the Prime Minister's claim of significant prior consultation. Was the decision taken without evidence or did the PM mislead Parliament?
As set out in previous answers, the Prime Minister made the announcement of the new departmental framework to Parliament first, and there are ongoing discussions led by Baroness Sugg and the permanent secretary with the CSOs and the NGOs.
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