Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department uses animal welfare in recipient countries as a criteria for determining aid development policies.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
The Prime Minister is resetting Britain's approach to climate and nature, putting it at the centre of the UK's missions. Action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to the FCDO's priorities. There is no pathway to countries' development aspirations without climate resilience, action on the nature crisis and access to clean energy, and no pathway to a sustainable future without development that leaves no one behind.
This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. That is exactly what it will do, and relevant departments will be outlining more detail in due course.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of foreign aid for India.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Most of the FCDO's bilateral development funding for India is targeted at helping tackle climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This is primarily done through development investments in partnership with the Indian Government. We also provide expertise in areas such as offshore wind, in support of India's climate commitments.
Ministers are reviewing the FCDO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to ensure it delivers on our priorities. We are committed to transparency and will publish ODA allocations for 2024-25.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much aid his Department has provided to China in the last five years.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Between 2019 and 2023, total Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend to China was £206.2 million, including on Chevening scholarships and British Council activity. In April 2021, the FCDO committed to cut ODA funded programmes in China by 95 per cent from the 2021-22 financial year. No funding goes to the Chinese authorities.