← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Official Development Assistance Reductions
04 November 2025
Lead MP
Edward Morello
West Dorset
LD
Responding Minister
Seema Malhotra
Tags
UkraineDefenceTaxation
Word Count: 13622
Other Contributors: 19
At a Glance
Edward Morello raised concerns about official development assistance reductions in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The UK must maintain its leadership role in aid to prevent conflict and instability, invest in long-term security by funding conflict prevention rather than withdrawing from it, and ensure that the money is spent on preventing displacement instead of treating its effects.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The planned reductions in official development assistance have left the UK's aid budget at its lowest level since this century, reducing it from 0.7% to a proposed 0.3% of GNI by 2027. This comes amid rising global need, with over 123 million people displaced and millions more facing severe hunger or food insecurity in countries like Sudan and Gaza.
Alex Ballinger
Lab
Halesowen
Raises concerns about national security and migration, noting that top three nationalities arriving in small boats are from conflict-affected states. Suggests the UK's decision to dismantle its conflict and migration department is wrong at a time when it should be investing more.
Southgate and Wood Green
Focused on the transformative nature of ODA for global education, highlighting that education has been a crucial component of the UK’s international development effort over the past two decades.
Bobby Dean
LD
Carshalton and Wallington
Discussed the reduction of aid budget, including salami-slicing of funds, public perception, and need to communicate success stories. Asked why the Conservative Party is proposing to cut the aid budget to 0.1% despite their claims about the importance of international development.
Brian Mathew
LD
Melksham and Devizes
Getting UK aid spending to 0.7% of GNI was undoubtedly one of the Liberal Democrats' proudest moments. It fulfilled a promise and it put us ahead of the game in the race to reach the Brandt target, but more importantly it meant that the UK was doing its bit to make poverty history around the world.
Ely and East Cambridgeshire
The UK's aid budget helps address extreme poverty, conflict, and climate change impacts. Reducing the ODA to just 0.3% of GNI represents a moral responsibility abdication. Proper investment in ODA is critical for tackling poverty and can help prevent conflicts abroad.
David Mundell
Con
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
There has been very little debate in Parliament about the major change in Government policy regarding ODA. The International Development Committee visited the US to find out what is happening there due to the significant impact of US cuts on global development structures.
David Taylor
Lab
Hemel Hempstead
Sought clarification from the Minister on a specific point regarding humanitarian aid, but was not given time to speak due to time constraints.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
Development spending should be increased alongside defence spending, as both serve each other's goals. Withdrawing UK aid leaves desperate countries turning to Russia and China for infrastructure spend, destabilising the international rules-based system.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Hit on a very important point, stating that negative stories have prevailed and there has been little public support for more ODA due to corruption in some countries receiving aid and the misappropriation of food and other produce.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Highlighted the importance of international development aid for religious minorities facing persecution and mentioned cuts leading to project terminations by USAID.
Esher and Walton
The UK's decision to slash the aid budget this year, following USAID closures, represents a critical mistake with long-term consequences for stability, security, and prosperity. She argues that aid is not charity but an investment in our future and supports former military leaders' views on its strategic importance.
Noah Law
Lab
St Austell and Newquay
The system must evolve from trade, not aid, and to transformation rather than transactions. The UK possesses an extraordinary toolkit to lead global debt reform, especially given its central role in the global financial architecture.
Rachael Maskell
Ind
York Central
She discusses the $44 billion cut in development funding, leading to a regression in TB, AIDS, malaria programmes. She warns that this is a false choice between development, defence and diplomacy.
Honiton and Sidmouth
Supports the argument that spending money on preventing conflict in regions is more cost-effective than housing asylum seekers in the UK, citing examples like Sudan and Gaza.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Notes recent reductions have meant UK ODA has dropped from 0.7% to 0.5%, projected to be at 0.3% by 2027, representing a significant retreat in leadership on international development and the global stage. The Chair of the International Development Committee supported the need for rigorous evaluation and oversight in aid spending. Asked about the feasibility of achieving four priorities with a 25% cut in staffing and £6 billion budget reduction.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Expresses concern about the impact of reduced ODA on charities like School in a Bag, which delivers school bags to children around the world. Highlights the importance of stable ODA-backed grants for such initiatives.
Tom Morrison
LD
Cheadle
He questions the impact of aid cuts on the world's most vulnerable children and highlights stark statistics, such as 63 million children going hungry this year. He also mentions that cutting ODA diminishes UK soft power and the role of humanitarian workers.
Uma Kumaran
Lab
Stratford and Bow
Asks if the hon. Member agrees that at a dangerous moment geopolitically, it is incumbent to advocate an approach that treats global co-operation, international obligations, defence, and security as interconnected.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
The UK has a proud record in international development under Conservative Governments, with millions lifted out of poverty and significant contributions to global health and sanitation.
Government Response
Seema Malhotra
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Government Response
The Minister confirmed that reducing ODA was necessary to increase defence spending but affirmed the UK's commitment to restoring ODA spending at 0.7% of GNI when fiscal circumstances allow. She emphasised the importance of modernising the approach for today’s uncertain world, making choices and focusing on maximum impact with limited resources. Explained the UK’s shift in international development strategy from donor to investor, service delivery to system support, grants to expertise, and international intervention to local leadership. Highlighted the use of innovative finance and private sector investment, partnerships with organisations like the Gates Foundation, and focus on three priorities: humanitarian aid, health, climate, and nature. Mentioned the UK’s response in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, economic benefits through Gavi partnership, and support for Ghana's textile industry. Reassured that negative impacts on women and girls would be mitigated while reducing asylum costs.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.