Recently
some constituents have written to me expressing their concerns over the impact
that the DFID-FCO merger may have on UKAid and its ability to help the poorest
and most impoverished people around the world.
Constituent
will know that I am a supporter of our international aid and 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.
At
the same time, I understand the concerns that many constituents have raised
with me regarding the inefficiency of certain aid and relief programmes that
DFID had been running, and the need for the allocation of this budget to be
made accountable to, and provide the best value for money, to UK taxpayers.
I
am glad these points were shared by the Prime Minister in his statement on
Global Britain in the Commons and in response to my question to him during his
statement: “I am grateful to my hon. Friend. What is actually happening, of
course, is that DFID and the FCO are now joining together to become a new
Whitehall super-Department for international affairs, which will be of huge
benefit to our ability to project Britain’s sense of mission about overseas
aid. For too long, frankly, UK overseas aid has been treated as some giant
cashpoint in the sky that arrives without any reference to UK interests, to the
values that the UK wishes to express or to the diplomatic, political and
commercial priorities of the Government of the UK.” (https://bit.ly/3hCgsn3)
It
would be wrong to suggest this latest merger as cynical move to roll back on
our humanitarian commitments to the world. What it does represent, is a new and
innovative approach by the UK to international relations, in order to secure
our values and interests in a rapid changing world – bringing together this
country’s strength and expertise to bear on the world’s biggest problems.
When
DFID was created in 1997 it was the right set-up for that era. I pay tribute to
the incredible work that DFID officials have done over the years, earning DFID
and the UK a well-deserved reputation as one of the leaders in the world when
it comes to humanitarian relief and development aid.
But
our world has changed since then. At present, the division of responsibility
between DFID and FCO means we are unable to always be as effective as we could
on the global stage.
This
latest merger is about streamlining Whitehall to ensure both its effectiveness
and efficiency – Having a single new Department will give the UK the change
required to maximise our positive influence around the world without losing any
of the expertise.
The
Prime Minister has made it clear that we will continue to commit to spending
0.7% of GNI on international development, and that it will be at the core of
our new foreign policy approach.
I
will continue to support and speak up for our aid efforts around the world and
to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable.
