Fourth Report - Effectiveness of UK aid: potential impact of FCO/DFID merger

Select Committee
International Development Committee HC 596 16 July 2020
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 16 items (12 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 16 of 16 classified)
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 3
Government response
Fourth Special Report - Effectiveness of UK Aid: Interim Report & Effectiveness of UK Aid: potential impact of FCO/DFID merger: Government Response to the Second & Fourth Reports · published 2 Oct 2020
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Recommendations & Conclusions

4 results
6 Recommendation Deferred
Para 58
Poverty reduction should continue to form a central part of the Government’s international policy.
Recommendation
Poverty reduction should continue to form a central part of the Government’s international policy. Accordingly, it should commit to targeting the majority of the UK’s ODA spend towards the very poorest countries. The Government should also set out how its … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government commits to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals but defers setting out specific foreign policy priorities and how they will be achieved to the Integrated Review.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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13 Recommendation Deferred
Multilateral spending forms an important part of the UK’s ODA, but we are concerned that...
Recommendation
Multilateral spending forms an important part of the UK’s ODA, but we are concerned that the merger may lead to an increase in funds provided to these organisations for generalised future spending rather than targeted funds delivering immediate benefits. As … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that its strategy for multilateral relationships and future ODA allocations, including the balance between bilateral and multilateral channels, will be considered as part of the Integrated Review and determined by the 2020 Spending Review.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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14 Recommendation Deferred
Para 102
In 2019, the UK aid budget totalled £15.2 billion.
Recommendation
In 2019, the UK aid budget totalled £15.2 billion. Given the size and complexity of this budget, thorough parliamentary scrutiny of UK aid spending is essential. This is best performed by a dedicated select committee which is able to take … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of parliamentary scrutiny and notes that the structure and remit of select committees are ultimately a matter for Parliament, suggesting a new committee will likely be set up to scrutinise the new department.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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16 Recommendation Deferred
Drawing upon the highly effective model of cooperation between the National Audit Office and Public...
Recommendation
Drawing upon the highly effective model of cooperation between the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee, the new ODA Committee should have responsibility for receiving and considering ICAI’s reviews. It should also have responsibility for the other aspects of … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government commits to parliamentary and independent scrutiny but states that the specific form these arrangements will take following the merger will be set out in due course.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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