During the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement opening the second day of the debate on the Queen’s Speech, Andrew Mitchell intervenes to ask if the Chancellor will restore the 0.7% target for international development spending at the end of the year when the economy has recovered to the extent the he predicts?
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con)
My right hon. Friend has just given us the excellent news that the economy should have rebounded by the end of this year. He and I have discussed on a number of occasions the importance of international development. In view of that, can he confirm to the House today that he will restore the 0.7% target at the end of the year when the economy has so recovered?
Rishi Sunak (Chancellor of the Exchequer)
I appreciate all the constructive conversations my right hon. Friend has had with me on this topic, which I know he feels passionately about. As he will know, while our economy will have recovered its pre-crisis levels, the damage to our public finances is much longer-lasting. That is what led the Government to make the difficult but I hope understandable decision to temporarily divert from the 0.7% commitment, with a full intention to return to it when the fiscal situation allows, but in the meantime to remain one of the leading donors to the causes that both he and I are passionate about.