To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect the reduction in Overseas Development Assistance on (a) vital programming, (b) NGO ground presence and (c) the experience of in-country staff to delivery programming in (i) Afghanistan, (ii) India, (iii) Nepal, (iv) Pakistan and (v) Bangladesh.

We have prioritised our aid to be more strategic and remain a force for good across the world. As the Foreign Secretary set out via Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament, one third of FCDO bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be spent in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia, in support of our deeper engagement in the region.

The portfolio agreed by the Foreign Secretary will focus our investment and expertise on issues where the UK can make the most difference and achieve maximum strategic coherence, impact, and value for money. We will now work through what this means for individual programmes, in line with the priorities we have identified. Following the move to 0.5% FCDO Ministers engaged with UK civil society, and we will continue to listen to feedback from them on the plan set out. We are monitoring the impacts on supply partners very closely. In-country staff continue to play a vital role in programme delivery, with local presence and knowledge contributing to the success of our programmes.