UK minister reaffirms aid target but sets no timetable
Kirsty McNeill has pledged to restore spending to 0.7% of national income when fiscal conditions allow, while announcing up to £15m for El Niño preparedness.
UK development minister Kirsty McNeill has reaffirmed Labour’s pledge to restore foreign aid spending to 0.7% of national income, but offered no timetable for reaching the target.
Speaking ahead of a speech to charities and campaigners at the New Economics Foundation, McNeill said restoration would depend on fiscal circumstances. UK aid spending was reduced to 0.3% of national income after the previous target was set aside during the Covid pandemic.
McNeill also announced that up to £15m would be made available through the humanitarian crisis fund for preventive measures in countries vulnerable to El Niño. The funding could support livestock vaccination and cash assistance for farmers.
She said the government would seek better value and effectiveness from existing resources through more tailored partnerships and reform of international bodies that spend UK aid.
McNeill said her priorities would be framed around five areas: health security, climate security, food security, human security and economic security. Charities have warned that recent cuts have reduced bilateral support for some of the world’s poorest countries.
