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Written Question
Development Aid
Wednesday 29th April 2026

Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what percentage of Gross National Income the Government spent as Official Development Assistance in the calendar years (a) 2024 and (b) 2025; how much UK Official Development Assistance was spent on research and development in the calendar years (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025: what percentage of Gross National Income the Government plans to spend as Official Development Assistance in the calendar years (A) 2026, (B) 2027, (C) 2028 and (D) 2029; and how much UK Official Development Assistance the government plans to spend on research and development in the calendar years (1) 2026, (2) 2027, (3) 2028 and (4) 2029.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

If my Hon. Friend is seeking the provisional Official Development Assistance (ODA): Gross National Income (GNI) ratio for 2025 (and final ratio for 2024) this information can be found within the Statistics on International Development at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-international-development.

In February 2025, the UK Government took the difficult decision to reduce ODA spending to 0.3 per cent of GNI by 2027 to fund a necessary increase in defence spending. We also stated our commitment to restore ODA spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. The Government has acted to improve budget stability for ODA to allow for better long-term planning of programming, meaning that ODA budgets will no longer be automatically adjusted for GNI fluctuations.

For 2024/25 the total ODA Research and Development (R&D) spend across HM Government was £985 million. Projected spending for 2025/26 was £0.8 billion, and current spending plans are £0.5 billion for 2026/27, and £0.4 billion for 2027/28, 2028/29 and 2029/30.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Apr 2026
Select Committee Statements

"On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Following my earlier point of order, I received an email from Conservative party headquarters. It contained a picture of an email that the Conservatives say that they sent to me ahead of the Leader of the Opposition’s visit to my constituency. Although …..."
Emily Darlington - View Speech

View all Emily Darlington (Lab - Milton Keynes Central) contributions to the debate on: Select Committee Statements
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Apr 2026
Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges

"On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that when an MP visits another MP’s constituency, the custom and practice is that they should give that MP due notice. The Leader of the Opposition came to my constituency but did not inform me that she would be there. I …..."
Emily Darlington - View Speech

View all Emily Darlington (Lab - Milton Keynes Central) contributions to the debate on: Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Apr 2026 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 297 Labour Aye votes vs 6 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 304 Noes - 28
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Apr 2026 - Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 333 Labour No votes vs 15 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 335
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Apr 2026 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 322 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 335 Noes - 158
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Apr 2026 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 304 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 308 Noes - 81
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Apr 2026 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 269 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 279 Noes - 164
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Apr 2026 - Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over) - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 269 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 279 Noes - 176
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context
Emily Darlington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 268 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 271 Noes - 171