PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Development Aid: Research (12 May 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to reinstate research programmes which have been discontinued as a result of a reduction to Official Development Assistance (ODA) when ODA returns to 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the effect of temporary reductions in funding to those programmes.

Asked by:
Dame Harriett Baldwin (Conservative)

We have prioritised our aid to be more strategic and remain a force for good across the world. Following a thorough review, the FCDO's aid budget has been allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate caused by COVID-19. FCDO will now work through what this means for individual research programmes, in line with the priorities we have identified

While we recognise some programmes will close, this will be done in a measured and responsible way, working closely with our delivery partners. We will return to spending 0.7 per cent as soon as the financial climate allows.  All FCDO teams will now plan their work based on the budget that has been allocated to them. We will discuss specifics with each individual project.  Budgets for 2022/23 and beyond will be determined through the spending review process later this year.

Answered by:
Nigel Adams (Conservative)
21 May 2021