Provisional Statistics on International Development: 2021

“Statistics on International Development: Provisional UK Aid Spend 2021” was published on 12 April. This set out that the UK spent almost £11.5 billion on official development assistance (ODA) in 2021, representing 0.5% of gross national income (GNI).

In November 2020, my right hon. Friend the former Foreign Secretary confirmed to the House that the UK would temporarily reduce the aid budget from 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%, as a result of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the UK’s economy. The Government intend to return to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA as soon as the fiscal situation allows: when on a sustainable basis the Government are not borrowing for day-to-day spending and underlying debt is falling. On 13 July 2021, the Government gave Members of Parliament the opportunity to debate their proposed course of action and a pathway back to 0.7%. The House voted clearly to approve the approach set out in the Treasury’s written ministerial statement.

The publication of the report is the first official release confirming the UK has not met the target of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA as required by the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015. That Act requires the Secretary of State to lay a statement before Parliament if the 0.7% target is not met explaining why it has not been met, as soon as reasonably practicable after laying the FCDO’s annual report and accounts (see section 2(1) and 2(3) of the 2015 Act).

The FCDO’s annual report and accounts will be laid before the summer recess.

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