Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact in their report <i>The effects of DfID's cash transfer programmes on poverty and vulnerability</i>, published on 12 January, that a quarter of recipients of aid aimed at the poorest 25 percent of the population were above the threshold; and whether they intend to review the effectiveness of cash transfer programmes.

ICAI referred to a cash transfer programme in Pakistan where 25% of beneficiaries were above a set threshold. All beneficiaries were living on less than 90 pence per day and 75% of them were living on less than 75 pence per day. These people use cash transfers to buy food, clothing and healthcare, and to send their children to school. We continue to keep all DfID programmes under regular analysis and review.