§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the UK Overseas Aid Development budget to reach the UN target level of 0.7 per cent, of gross national income. [83401]
§ John HealeyI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 7 November,Official Report, column 738W.
Any timetable beyond 2005–06 for reaching the UN 0.7 per cent, target would properly be a matter for future parliaments. For this reason we believe that it is more important to look at what has actually been achieved and what is firmly budgeted for, and it is this record— rather than any aspirational timetable— that should be seen as the critical test of our commitment.