VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Foreign Aid: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Asked by Rupert LoweRestore BritainForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 21 February 2025UIN 29961

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to ensure that every line of foreign aid spending must be approved by Parliament.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds

All government spending is approved by Parliament in the Budget. There are no plans to introduce new legislation for ODA spending.

To support effective programme delivery, the publicly available FCDO Programme Operating Framework sets out the mandatory rules and the principles, controls, roles, and responsibilities for programme teams. We ensure delivery represents value for money by measuring and assessing programmes throughout their lifecycle and will work with the Independent Commission for Aid Impact to apply the highest standards to our ODA spend, including robust measures of development effectiveness.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim