Press Release
25 July 2006
New Act to hold Government to account on international aid
New measures that will deliver greater transparency and accountability in the
way Government spends public money tackling poverty in developing countries,
will now pass into law.
The Private Member’s Bill, introduced by Tom Clarke MP in June 2005,
completed its final Parliamentary stages today as the International Development
(Reporting and Transparency) Act and will now receive Royal Assent.
Gareth Thomas, International Development Minister, said:
“I congratulate Tom Clarke on his skill in negotiating the Bill through
all its Parliamentary stages and into law.
“The new Act will increase the detail and consistency of the ‘how’ and
the ‘why’ we spend our money. And greater accountability will help to
improve understanding of overseas aid and development policy.
“The Act will provide an invaluable model for other countries, both rich
and poor, to follow. Giving more information can only help to tackle
corruption and improve governance.
“Our recent White Paper sets out what we need to do over the next decade,
to make sure we deliver on the promises we made at Gleneagles and reach the
targets set by the UN Millennium Development Goals.”
The new Act makes it a legal requirement for the International Development
Secretary to report annually to Parliament on the Government’s development
policies and programmes, and on the provision of aid within partner countries
and the way it is used. It sets out a clear framework that will show how DFID
spends its money in working towards the Millennium Development Goals. It will
create a clear and comparable framework that will allow easy analysis of
progress towards the UN target of spending 0.7% of UK national income on
official development assistance.
The new Act does not amend or replace the International Development Act 2002,
but complements it by establishing a formal, legislative basis for how the
Government reports and accounts for the aid it provides under this Act.
Notes for editors
1. The International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Act was
introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Tom Clarke MP in June 2005.
2. It requires the Secretary of State for International Development to report
annually to Parliament indicating how Government resources allocated to
international development have been spent. It will enhance Parliamentary
scrutiny of government in delivering on the pledges made to help poor countries
and people around the world.
3. Throughout the Bill’s Parliamentary passage, the Government has strongly
supported it. DFID has worked closely with the Bill’s sponsors and with
Parliamentary Counsel to take account of the views of MPs across the political
spectrum, NGOs and other Government departments.
4. The Bill passed its Third Reading in the Lords on Monday 24 July and will
receive Royal Assent on 25 July.
5. The UK overseas aid budget will rise to £6.5 billion next year and the UK
is committed to spending 0.7% of GNI by 2013, two years ahead of the EU target
of 2015.
6. For further information please contact the DFID newsroom on 020 7023 0600
or the public enquiry point on 0845 300 4100.
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