Coalition mid-term review reaction: ONE responds to coalition government’s announcement to deliver legislation on 0.7 international development spending target

ONE welcomes the government’s announcement in its mid-term review that it remains committed to deliver the proposed increase in aid to 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income from 2013, and will enshrine this commitment in law.

Adrian Lovett, ONE’s Executive Director, Europe said:

“This is good news. Meeting Britain’s aid promise will vaccinate more children than the population of England, for a very small cost. Legislating to maintain spending at 0.7% of national income will improve the effectiveness of our aid by providing greater predictability and ensuring programmes won’t be cut midstream. The government should bring forward a bill to make this happen as soon as possible.

“The government has put open societies and open economies at the heart of this year’s G8. By putting their own houses in order in relation to transparency – on aid and beyond – the G8 will be supporting people in developing countries to get the benefit of their own resources, and demonstrating real leadership that will be good for their own citizens and good for the world.”  

Notes for Editors: 

1. In its mid-term review, the coalition government stated that “We will deliver our commitment to increase aid to 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income from 2013, and will enshrine this commitment in law.”

2. ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organisation co-founded by Bono and backed by more than 3 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit www.ONE.org.