Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be taking on the Department for International Development legal obligation as set out in the International Development Act 2002 to prioritise poverty reduction.

Spending 0.7 percent of our national income on aid is enshrined in law. As per the Prime Minister’s statement to the House, the work of UK Aid to reduce poverty will remain central to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development office. We will undertake the necessary parliamentary process to transfer responsibilities under the International Development Act to the new department.