Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the ongoing effect on beneficiaries overseas of the withdrawal of Government funds to Oxfam and Save the Children.

DFID’s primary concern is the impact on beneficiaries and we have been careful to ensure that Oxfam and Save the Children’s voluntary withdrawal has not directly affected them. Although there has been a voluntary withdrawal from new UK government funding, no current DFID projects with either organisation have been stopped and are proceeding with enhanced scrutiny. For all new projects where we might otherwise have considered funding Oxfam and Save the Children, we are finding alternative partners to ensure that the poorest continue to be protected.

DFID is absolutely committed to driving up standards across the aid sector and will host an international summit on tackling sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment on 18th October.