Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK aid spending is used in the manner intended.

DFID has rigorous internal systems and processes to ensure that its aid reaches the intended beneficiaries and delivers results. A business case is mandatory for all new funding proposals, and all cases over five million pounds are approved at ministerial level. Once a programme is underway a formal review is required annually and at completion, which assesses and records whether funds have been used for their intended purposes and the results that have been delivered. Assurance that our aid money is being used for the intended purposes is gained form a number of independent providers including Internal Audit Department.

DFID has commissioned a package of reforms to further improve programme leadership, processes and capability and strengthen our oversight of spending.