International Aid: Treasury Update — 13 Jul 2021 at 15:51
The majority of MPs voted to say MPs had considered a statement on international aid, the Chancellor had stated the Government would interpret this vote as a vote to continue a policy of spending 0.5% of gross national income spent on international aid, rather than at least 0.7%.
The motion supported by the majority of MPs in this vote was:
- That this House
- has considered the Written Ministerial Statement relating to [Treasury Update on International Aid, which was made to the House on Monday 12 July.
While, on a literal reading of the motion alone, the result of this vote had no impact either way, it appears the Chancellor had promised the Government would interpret a vote against as a vote for spending [at least] 0.7% of Gross National Income on international aid in the next year.
The statement, made by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, MP included:
- we took the decision last year to temporarily reduce the ODA budget to spend 0.5 per cent of gross national income on overseas aid in 2021.
- ...
- Consistent with the fiscal principles set out at March Budget 2021, and with the principles contained within the Conservative Party 2019 Manifesto, the government commits to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA when the independent Office for Budget Responsibility’s fiscal forecast confirms that, on a sustainable basis, we are not borrowing for day-to-day spending and underlying debt is falling, ...
- ...
- A motion will be tabled by the government alongside this Written Ministerial Statement asking the House of Commons to consider this approach, for debate tomorrow. If the House approves the motion, recognising the need to manage the public finances responsibly and maintaining strong investment in domestic public services like the NHS, schools and police, then the government will continue with the approach set out in this Statement. However, if the House were to negative the motion, rejecting the government’s assessment of the fiscal circumstances, then the government would consequently return to spending 0.7% of GNI on international aid in the next calendar year, and with likely consequences for the fiscal situation, including for taxation and current public spending plans.
The motion which was subject to this vote was the only motion on the subject of the statement on the order paper[1].
That the Chancellor appeared to promise the Government would consider a vote against the motion a vote for spending [at least] 0.7% of Gross National Income on international aid can be taken into account when interpreting this vote. At the very least the Government could be challenged to keep its chancellor's promise.
- [1] Order paper, House of Commons, Tuesday 13 July 2021, Parliament.uk
Party Summary
Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.
What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.
What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.
What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.
| Party | Majority (Aye) | Minority (No) | Both | Turnout |
| Alba | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Alliance | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Con | 332 (+2 tell) | 24 (+1 tell) | 0 | 98.6% |
| DUP | 0 | 8 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Green | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Independent | 1 | 4 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Lab | 0 | 197 (+1 tell) | 0 | 99.5% |
| LDem | 0 | 12 | 0 | 100.0% |
| PC | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |
| SDLP | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
| SNP | 0 | 45 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Total: | 333 | 299 | 0 | 99.1% |
Rebel Voters - sorted by vote
MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division
Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote