The Daily Express has published an article today highlighting how the aid budget is spent across government. The piece outlines how the Department for International Development spends three quarters of the aid budget, while the remaining share is spent by departments including the Home Office, Treasury, Ministry of Defence, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Foreign Office and Department for Health.
The article alleges that because more government departments are spending aid, there is a lack of co-ordination and accountability.
The Prime Minister and International Development Secretary Priti Patel have been absolutely clear on the robust measures in place to ensure our overseas development investments achieve the best value for money.
Speaking yesterday a Downing Street spokesperson said:
We have measures in place to ensure our investment in overseas development goes where it is needed most and can deliver the very best results for taxpayers’ money.
All partners are subject to rigorous scrutiny of their effectiveness and we are putting performance agreements in place to hold aid organisations to account.
We have always been clear that will not hesitate to stop funding organisations that are not getting results and value for money.
We are also pushing to ensure international aid rules are fully modernised and fit for purpose.
But disasters, conflicts and disease don’t pay attention to national borders.
We face a simple choice: either we wait for these problems to arrive on our doorstep or we take action before they threaten us in the UK.
Through our continued commitment to aid, we are helping to keep Britain safe.
Speaking recently, Ms Patel has also challenged other government departments spending aid to raise their game and be accountable to UK taxpayers.
The UK Aid Strategy requires all departments spending aid to put in place a clear plan to ensure that their programmes are designed, procured, monitored and reviewed to meet international best practice.