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Written question asked by Sarah Champion (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 January 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 January 2021. It was answered by James Duddridge (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Global Challenges Research Fund

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to maintain the current level of funding for the Global Challenges Research Fund.

Answer

The COVID-19 pandemic's economic impact has forced the government to take the difficult decision to temporarily reduce ODA to 0.5% of GNI and to take tough, but necessary decisions to maximise impact for our aid spend.

The Foreign Secretary has now completed the overall departmental cross-government allocations of ODA spend for 2021 and laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament [today], summarising the outcomes. The resulting package will drive greater coherence, notwithstanding the difficult financial position we face. We will spend 0.5% (currently forecast as £10 billion) on our priorities of climate and biodiversity; COVID-19 and global health security; girls' education; science and research; open societies and conflict; humanitarian assistance; and trade.

Individual departments will now work through the implications of their spending allocation for the programmes and activities they manage.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
140107
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Global Challenges Research Fund
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk