Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Rejected
Reducing ODA to 0.3% will have devastating consequences, undermining UK soft power and security.
Conclusion
The UK’s planned reduction of ODA spend from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income will have devastating consequences across the world. The Committee recognises that increased defence spending is needed and is to be welcomed. However, to do this at the expense of the world’s most vulnerable undermines not only the UK’s soft power, but also its national security. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the conclusion, reiterating its commitment to returning to 0.7% ODA when fiscal circumstances allow, based on OBR forecasts, and notes these conditions are not met within this Parliament.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Disagree. The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA as soon as fiscal circumstances allow, and when the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) fiscal forecast confirms that, on a sustainable basis, the UK is no longer borrowing for day-to-day spending and underlying debt is falling (the ODA fiscal tests). The government will continue to monitor future forecasts closely, and each year will review and confirm, in accordance with the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, whether a return to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA is possible against the latest fiscal forecast. The OBR’s latest forecast shows that the ODA fiscal tests are not due to be met within this Parliament.