Overseas Aid (Hansard, 4 March 2002)

§ Vernon Coaker
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage of GNP is committed to overseas aid in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what plans he has to increase the percentage of GNP committed to overseas aid; and if he will make a statement. [39726]

§ Ruth Kelly
The final figures for 2002 are currently not available from the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The latest DAC figures available show the UK net overseas development assistance average for 2000 was 0.32 per cent. of GNP.
The Government remain fully committed to the UN 0.7 per cent oda/GNP target. They have made clear their pledge that the ratio of aid to GNP will reach 0.33 per cent. in 2003–04. This would place the UK above the G7 country average of 0.19 per cent. and the OECD average of 0.22 per cent.
In his speech in November in New York and in his pre-Budget report speech, the Chancellor emphasised his commitment to ensuring further substantial increases in development assistance and its share in national income. The impending spending review will set spending plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 and is an opportunity to consider plans for development spending beyond 2003–04, alongside other priorities and pressures.

§ Ian Lucas
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the proportion of gross national income devoted to overseas development assistance was in each financial year since 1979. [39970]
110W

§ Mr. Boateng
The oda/GNI ratio is an input target whose elements are set by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). 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.
The figures for the proportion of gross national income devoted to overseas development assistance for each financial year since 1979 are available in the DFID Report, Statistics on International Development 1996/–72000/01, page 143, Figure 16.1 Net oda/GNI ratios for the UK.
The report is a National Statistics publication.

§ Mr. Kaufman
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he intends to achieve the United Nations' target of 0.7 per cent. GNP for overseas aid. [40324]

§ Mr. Boateng
The Government remain fully committed to the UN 0.7 per cent. oda/GNP target. They have made clear their pledge that the ratio of aid to GNP will reach 0.33 per cent in 2003–04. This would place the UK above the G7 country average of 0.19 per cent. and the OECD average of 0.22 per cent.
In his speech in November in New York, and in his pre-Budget report speech, the Chancellor emphasised his commitment to ensuring further substantial increases in development assistance and its share in national income. The impending spending review will set spending plans for 2003–04 to 2005–6 and is an opportunity to consider plans for development spending beyond 2003–04, alongside other priorities and pressures.