Written question asked by Lord Balfe (Conservative) on Monday, 18 December 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 January 2024. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Friday, 5 January 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Asylum: Deportation

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that international aid from Sweden will soon depend on whether the recipient country accepts the repatriation of its citizens, such as asylum seekers and migrants deemed a security risk, what assessment they have made of the case for adopting a similar policy for the United Kingdom.

Answer: UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) is provided with the primary purpose of contributing to reduction in poverty. Allocation decisions are informed by a range of modelling and information sources, including absolute poverty, humanitarian need, geopolitical prioritisation and the ability of a country to self-finance its own development. The recently published White Paper on International Development makes clear that the UK will prioritise its ODA where it is most needed and most effective.

Secondary information