There has been much discussion about our
international aid budget lately. Some constituents who are keen to see the
money being put into good use have emailed me to ask if I would support the ONE
Campaign, which urges the government to guarantee that all UK aid is effective,
transparent, and targeted at ending extreme poverty.
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.
I would like to see the Government maintain its
commitment on international aid and will be speaking up for its ability to
transform lives and tackle the root causes of global issues.
But I also see the importance of holding the
government to account on this matter, which is why I am pleased to inform my
constituents that I will be supporting the ONE Campaign and will continue to
ask the Department for International Development to give the British public a
full account of the way our overseas aid budget.
