Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that her Department does not link trade deals to aid projects; and what her policy is on her Department's use of aid to encourage trade deals.

We champion economic development, which is the only way to lift huge numbers of people in poor countries out of poverty. Trade is an important part of economic development. Our economic development work will include support for countries to take advantage of trading opportunities and will not be tied.