Speeches by Dodds.

“There are many commitments that we have made as a Government that we really want to deliver, but we are hampered by an inheritance that has been extraordinarily poor fiscally.”

“We will keep working towards a system for the public finances that is far more robust for the future, one where we really can fund our priorities at the level that we want to see. That £22 billion black hole has inevitably had a significant impact. As I said, I am pleased and encouraged by the fact that we have seen th…”

“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…”

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

“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 …”

“Bless you. On the issue of ensuring that there is good value for money, if there is a change and, say, greater availability of resources, I am confident that we would be able to deal with that in a way that would represent good value for money. I am confident about it because we have been able to be flexible. For examp…”

“Where I might slightly put your first sentence in context, I suppose, is that I do not believe it is wise to have a wishful thinking approach to this because I think, where the UK has not been able to fulfil our commitments, that has been extremely damaging for our reputation. It is really important that we have sound …”

“To be fair, yes, it is what I am saying. However, the point I was trying to make was that, if those changes are not made, this will not just be an issue for my Department.”

“It will be a fundamental issue for the new Government. That was what I was trying to say.”

“I would make two remarks on that important question. First of all, I have been incredibly impressed to see the impact that UK development and aid is having around the world. Since I started six months ago, I have been to South Sudan, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Jordan, the West Bank and Indonesia, to see projects that we…”

“The question perhaps intimated that it is not currently possible to realise the kind of outcomes that we want. What I want to say back to the Committee is that I genuinely believe we are delivering on our priorities, but we do need to do more.”

“I will come on to that, Chair. I hope it is consistent with the Committee’s remit if I mention that I personally have had discussions with Home Office Ministers around this question.”

“I am just mentioning it so that the Committee is aware that this is something that certainly I am aware of, and I know that they are absolutely aware of, as well as the many other measures that they are already enacting. In terms of non-ODA measures, it is very clear that aid is a tiny fraction of the resources that ne…”

“We are certainly in a situation that is just as intense, if not more intense for many countries, as during the jubilee period. We are also in a situation, as I know the Committee will be well aware, where the composition of that debt is arguably far more complex. China is a far bigger creditor than it was. There is muc…”

“Yes, absolutely. This is an area where we need to make far more of the UK contribution. We have seen HMRC, in particular, in a number of countries providing support and advice at a technical level to different Governments. That has been really significant. I found that myself, with some of the field visits that I have …”

“Ultimately, official development assistance must be used to relieve poverty. That is the criterion against which it must be spent. That is set very clearly in law. It is very important that the UK focuses on ensuring that we are enabling countries to develop jobs and growth, including the poorest countries. That is ver…”

“I do not believe that is correct, when we take into account multilateral spending and other forms of ODA spending, and not purely bilateral. The classification of countries is something that is contested. We hear this message from small island developing states in particular, from some of the Caribbean countries, but a…”

“I think the Committee would want us to ensure that we were facing up to major humanitarian challenges. I think the Committee would be keen for us to do that, but at the same time I know the Committee is keen for us to ensure we have that focus on countries where there is extreme poverty as well. It is important that we…”

“Thank you very much for raising that. I really do believe that it is fundamental. I do not want to labour the point that I made before, but we have to recognise that, unless women and girls are put at the heart of development policy, we simply will not have an effective development policy. The FCDO has committed that a…”