Speeches by Dodds.

“There previously were cuts. As I just set out, for 2024‑25 we have seen an uplift. It is really important that we restore the UK’s reputation on development. When I have been around the world—whether that is in global summits, Paris, Hamburg, New York, D.C., Baku, or whether it has been in the different field visits th…”

“Every single Government Minister will always say that in an ideal world there would be limitless resources. The reality is, unfortunately, that we have had a situation where we have had that £22 million black hole. I do not need to rehearse this, because you all know it. We are working really hard to get our country on…”

“The 0.5% was the decision of the previous Government, so that was already the inheritance that we received. If you are asking me whether I wish that we were in different fiscal circumstances, of course I wish that. This is not the only area where an incoming Government would want to see the finances being in a better s…”

“For me, what is important is whether we are actually getting on with the job and making those changes. I felt it was critically important, when I attended the cross-Government committee that was set up on our mission to halve violence against women and girls, that I could talk about the UK expertise through the What Wo…”

“The ambition is within our manifesto. It is a manifesto commitment that we reach it as fiscal circumstances allow. Those fiscal rules were set out by the Chancellor; she set them out as the means to ensure that we would be genuinely growing our economy, but, above all, ensuring that our fiscal circumstances are more st…”

“There are discrete programmes focused specifically on women and girls, for example on women’s rights organisations, but also in relation to women’s health in particular and other areas. You mentioned Afghanistan, I think—”

“We have more than just me, of course. We also have Bridget Phillipson. We have Seema Malhotra working on racial equality and Nia Griffith working on LGBT+ people. We have a number of Ministers who are focused on these issues, and rightly so, on equalities matters. They are embedded within our missions for Government. T…”

“It is certainly not the latter; that is for sure. I would genuinely say to members of this Committee, “Judge us on what we deliver”. You will see that we have been delivering on all those areas.”

“Yes, there is confusion here. It is within the International Development Act 2015 that the overall framework is set, but within that Act the precise fiscal rules are not fully set out.”

“Yes, six months.”

“I do not mind, but I do not want colleagues to be put in a difficult position.”

“As I said, the most important thing is to show that we can make that change, that we have made it before and that we are making it right now. If we just set out figures of money, as I said, I really do not think that helps, but as a corollary to this we have to be absolutely focused on ensuring that taxpayers’ money is…”

“Yes, I have had a number of discussions with counterparts at USAID on a number of issues and I am very grateful to them for their time. Of course, the UK has worked with a whole variety of US Administrations of every political stripe. We have always done that to work together, and that will continue, but at the same ti…”

“The reason why I am smiling is that I have had so many amazing experiences since I came into my role. One of the most moving was when I was in Indonesia with a gathering of female politicians from all over Indonesia of all kinds of backgrounds. One of them said, “I am really pleased that the UK has a Minister for Devel…”

“Yes, most definitely. As I mentioned at the beginning, in order to have a modern development policy that is effective, women and girls must be at the heart of that development policy. Otherwise, if we do not include women and girls, there is no way to create economic growth, no way to have an effective healthcare syste…”

“I will try to be really quick. I was really pleased that they were appointed. We have now seen the first UK engagement in Port Sudan to have taken place since the conflict began. It is incredibly important that that happened. We have doubled our aid to Sudan and we continue to work with a range of other bodies, bilater…”

“Yes, I agree with that. It is critically important in those circumstances to speak very openly and honestly. As I said, that means acknowledging where we need to make changes in our own country. That has also been the case with racial equality and, indeed, LGBT+ equality, where we are seeking to make changes as well. W…”

“Absolutely—the Home Secretary has set out a whole number of plans. She has not just set out the plans; they are being actioned right now. I will not go into the detail of them because that would be more for the Home Affairs Committee. They have been particularly relevant to in-donor refugee costs, which cover the first…”

“I will make two comments on that. First of all, there is considerable work going on within the Department on this. I mentioned before that ODA board. Officials have been working together towards that to ensure that we really can use it as a mechanism to effectively scrutinise those costs and to make sure that they are …”

“That is such a good question. It is something that I am really passionate about as well. When people realise that back in 1980, about 50% of the world lived in extreme poverty, and now about one in 10 people in the world live in extreme poverty, they can see that we can make progress together. When the UK works in part…”