Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's commitment to allocating 50 per cent of her Department's spending to fragile states and regions on the future allocation of development assistance to poor but peaceful countries.

DFID uses a range of factors to determine allocations to countries, including the need of those countries for development assistance, how effective our assistance is likely to be in those countries, and the strategic fit with UK government priorities.

The 50% commitment is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do for Britain’s national interest. The commitment ensures that we improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. Poverty is increasingly concentrated in fragile states and regions, and conflict is one of the major challenges to development. Over half of the world’s poor live in fragile states.

Our work in fragile states and regions will help to build stability, prevent conflict and support economic growth in the world’s poorest countries and regions. Without stability, our gains on poverty reduction risk being reversed.