The future of the UK’s international aid and development assistance programmes will be the focus of a new inquiry launched today by the International Development Committee. The inquiry will examine how the UK can continue to deliver high impact international aid and development assistance in the face of a 40% budget cut as the Government seeks to fund increased defence spending in the name of national security. The international development budget will be cut from 0.5% of the UK’s Gross National Income – the equivalent total income of people and businesses in the UK – to 0.3% in 2027. Committee chair, Sarah Champion MP, said: “We are at a critical moment when it comes to the future of UK foreign aid. “What should drive the Government’s vision for foreign aid; national security, moral duty, international obligations?