Oral QuestionForeign and Commonwealth Office

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 24 October 2018Answered: 30 October 2018

Asked by

Jeff Smith

LabourManchester Withington

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)

We are committed to international development, but we must modernise our approach to reflect the world we live in and the threats that our country faces, while maintaining economic stability at home. We are committed to meeting the overseas development aid budgets that have been set out, but with less money, we must focus on having greater impact. Every pound must deliver for the UK taxpayer and the people we support. We will sharpen our focus on humanitarian issues, health, climate and nature, and that will be underpinned by a focus on economic development.