David welcomed plans to spend more UK overseas aid on helping poor people in states affected by conflict. The new policy was unveiled in a White Paper published by International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander on the 6th July.
The DFID White Paper commits the UK Government to meeting the UN goal of 0.7% in aid spending and on achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals on poverty, hunger, disease, maternal health, and schools. It also sets out new priorities, including:
- making sure every pound of UK aid is spent well
- helping poor countries adapt to climate change and grow their economies in a low carbon way
- providing economic opportunities for 7.5 million people in states affected by conflict, training police forces, setting up law courts and giving priority to measures to tackle violence against women
- boosting support for democratic politics, including peaceful, free and fair elections
- more than doubling partnerships with local charities, faith groups, trade unions and ethical businesses
David commented "People the Stroud Constituency can be proud that the Government is leading the world with its commitment to the poorest. At a time when some are questioning whether we should be cutting our aid budget, we are committed to investment for social justice both at home and abroad."
International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said David has been a tireless campaigner on global poverty. We welcome commitment of David and the thousands of people in the Stroud Constituency to this agenda. Every penny of UK taxpayers’ money my department spends must make a tangible difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people."
