Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2017 to Question 59290, for what reasons other Departments have Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets; and if she will review the effectiveness of the ODA budgets of other Departments to ensure value for money for the public purse.

Spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a UK commitment which is firmly in the national interest. In order to respond to the new global challenges, the UK Aid Strategy sets out the need to deploy the wider skills and expertise of all parts of government.

Accounting officers of departments or public bodies whose money is being spent on aid need to ensure they fulfil their obligations under HM Treasury’s ‘Managing Public Money’, including ensuring value for money of the use of public funds.

The International Development Act places an obligation on the Secretary of State to ensure the independent evaluation of UK ODA.