Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the administration of Official Development Assistance will continue to prioritise (a) economic development and (b) welfare in developing countries after her Department merges with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The UK continues to report its aid spend in line with the international definitions of Official Development Assistance as set by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The core definition of ODA is spend that has the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective.

We will continue to look at how the UK’s aid can maximise the UK’s role as a force for good in the world, including through the Integrated Review. This will inform the priorities of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

As the Prime Minister said in the House, the work of UK aid to reduce poverty will remain central to the new department’s mission.