HC Deb 17 December 2001 vol 377 cc31-2W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what development assistance spending has been as a percentage of gross national product in each of the last 20 years. [18189]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 27 November 2001]: The ODA/GNP ratio is an input target whose elements are set by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The Government remain committed to reaching the 0.7 target of Overseas Development Assistance as a percentage of GNP, we are steadily increasing the DOD budget—45 per cent. in real terms by 2003–04, the largest UK development assistance budget ever in real as well as cash terms. Development assistance as a percentage of GNP will rise to 0.33 per cent. in 2003–04, up from 0.26 per cent in 1997.

DfID's publication "Statistics on International Development" (ISBN 186192397X), shows the UK's ODA/GNP ratio for the last 25 years.