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MPs to grill minister on UK foreign aid spending UK 'must lead' in helping war disabled
(about 3 hours later)
A cabinet minister is to face questions about how millions of pounds of UK foreign aid money are spent. The UK must show "leadership" in helping civilians disabled by injuries sustained in wars, the international development secretary has said.
Priti Patel is due before the international development committee alongside her department's top civil servant. Priti Patel told MPs said people were "every day pained by what we see, people being harmed".
One committee member said the MPs wanted to ensure "every pound is properly spent". Newspaper reports have queried how the 0.7% of national committed to putting into aid is being spent.
The government has been defending its record after newspaper reports questioned how aid cash is spent. But Ms Patel promised to ensure "every single penny" is used for projects for which it was intended.
The government is committed to spending 0.7% of national income on aid, a target some Conservatives have criticised, with some saying the cash should be spent on adult social care instead. Appearing before the International Development Committee, she said there were "areas that I would like to personally show some leadership in".
Conservative MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the international development committee, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was important to avoid "box-ticking" in order to meet the target. She suggested these could include family planning and "disability in conflict", adding: "We are, every single day, pained by what we see... people being harmed. Disability is another component of that."
Some Conservatives have criticised the aid budget, with some saying the cash should be spent on adult social care in the UK instead.
Ms Patel told the committee: "I think the British government and [the Department for International Development] leads the world in a lot of the work we do with women and girls."
She also said: "We look at everything within the round." She added: "We make sure that every single penny is to encourage those outcomes."
Reports rejected
Conservative MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the International Development Committee, earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was important to avoid "box-ticking" in order to meet the target.
He backed the 0.7% commitment, saying while he was "increasingly" worried about money being wasted, he had also witnessed money being spent in "such a productive way" on projects around the world.He backed the 0.7% commitment, saying while he was "increasingly" worried about money being wasted, he had also witnessed money being spent in "such a productive way" on projects around the world.
The Department for International Development rejected a report in The Times claiming it was "dumping" billions of pounds into World Bank trust funds in an attempt to meet the 0.7% target.The Department for International Development rejected a report in The Times claiming it was "dumping" billions of pounds into World Bank trust funds in an attempt to meet the 0.7% target.
It said the World Bank had the "reach and expertise to reduce poverty around the world" but that the UK was challenging it to "work harder and smarter".It said the World Bank had the "reach and expertise to reduce poverty around the world" but that the UK was challenging it to "work harder and smarter".
The department also rejected the Daily Mail's claim it was giving £5m to an "African girl band", saying it was part of a project in Ethiopia working to combat forced child marriage, violence and teen pregnancy.The department also rejected the Daily Mail's claim it was giving £5m to an "African girl band", saying it was part of a project in Ethiopia working to combat forced child marriage, violence and teen pregnancy.
"All programmes are kept under review to ensure they are helping the world's poorest and delivering value for UK taxpayers," it added."All programmes are kept under review to ensure they are helping the world's poorest and delivering value for UK taxpayers," it added.