§ Mr. CatonTo 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. [78244]
§ John HealeyThe Government remain fully committed to reaching the UN 0.7 per cent. ODA/GNI target. In the 2002 Spending Review we made substantial increases to the aid budget. The UK's level of overseas development assistance will be increased to 0.33 per cent. by 2003/04, up from 0.26 per cent. in 1997, and will reach 0.40 per cent. of GNI by 2005/06. This is the largest ever increase in UK aid and represents a 93 per cent. real terms increase since 1997.
Aid effectiveness is also important as well as aid volumes. We are committed to redirecting the development assistance budget to the poorest countries, particularly those with effective governments pursuing high growth and pro-poor economic and social policies. In addition, we have untied all our aid as from 1 April 2001.