Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's Annual Report & Accounts: 2020-2021, HC 660, published on 22 September 2022, what assessment she has made of the impact of recent reductions in the Official Development Assistance budget on the UK Government's contribution towards (a) leading international efforts to end the pandemic and strengthen global health security, (b) tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, (c) ensuring that the most marginalised receive a quality education, (d) supporting peace, stability, human rights, and open societies, (e) being an international advocate for equality and (f) making progress in global poverty reduction.

The UK is a world leader on international development. In 2020 we were the third largest international donor. We spent £14.5 billion Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) fighting poverty and helping those in need, despite the seismic impact of the pandemic on the UK and the subsequent reduction in Gross National Income (GNI).

Based on current GNI forecasts, we will still spend over £10 billion of ODA in 2021. To mitigate the impact of the reduction in spend, FCDO has focussed ODA on issues where the UK can make the most difference and achieve maximum strategic coherence, impact, and value for money. We are also using our G7 and COP 26 Presidencies to drive coordinated international action and raise the level of ambition on all of these priorities.

The UK is providing international leadership on global health and we are a major investor, particularly on vaccines. Comparing our 2020 Covid spend to other donors' provisional statistics, the UK was the third largest donor. We are also the third largest donor to the World Health Organization and the top donor to GAVI, which vaccinates children against killer diseases. The FCDO will continue to prioritise global health in 2021/22, spending £1.305 billion. The UK has committed to doubling its International Climate Finance to £11.6 billion over five years. Within this, at least £3 billion will be invested in climate change solutions that protect, restore and sustainably manage nature. Advancing women's and girls' rights remains a core part of this Government's mission, including fulfilling 12 years of quality education for all girls. At the G7 Summit, Leaders' committed at least $2.7 billion over the next 5 years for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), of which the UK contributed £430 million. We continue to promote global equality, including through commitments made under our G7 Presidency; co-hosting the Global Education Summit with Kenya and COP26.