Recently some constituents have contacted me to say
that they are “worried that some media outlets and politicians continue to call
for this budget to be slashed” and would like to seek my support on maintaining
our international aid budget and commitment to the supporting the poorest
and the most vulnerable in the international community.
I am proud of the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7% of
our budget in international aid, which is helping to build a safer, healthier,
more prosperous world for people in developing countries and in the UK.
British aid goes towards vaccinating children from
preventable diseases, enabling them to go to school and helping people work
their way out of poverty, as well as providing food, nutrition and medical
care.
Foreign aid also provides added value to our security
and trade policies. Foreign development assistance can often make an important
contribution towards in supporting stability and sustainable development for
the recipient country, leading to better foreign relations and prospect for a
more preferential trade deal with them.
It is in our interest to maintain our foreign aid
policy because it also helps to promote UK interests abroad and ensure our
position as the world’s leading soft power nation is secure.
While it is important that we deliver value for
money to taxpayers and I will continue to press ministers to make the necessary
changes to ensure this happens, I would like to see the Government continue its
commitment to international aid and will be speaking up for its ability to
transform lives and tackle the root causes of global issues.
