The international target for aid donor countries to spend 0.7% of their gross national income (GNI) on official development assistance (ODA) was first established in 1970 at the United Nations. The 0.7% target has been reaffirmed in many international agreements over the years. The UK has not yet met the target, but in 2004 the Government indicated its intention to achieve the target by 2013. Increasing global aid levels is a vital part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Britain's aid budget has more than tripled since 1997 and its ODA/GNI ratio has risen from 0.26% in 1997 to 0.43% in 2008. Putting the 0.7% target into law will underline the importance attached by this Government and by Parliament to the achievement of this goal. The draft Bill places a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that the target for ODA to amount to 0.7% of GNI is met by the UK in 2013 and subsequent years. This document contains the draft Bill, explanatory notes and an impact assessment.

In 1970 the UN General Assembly called on the economically advanced countries to provide 0.7% of their income as Official Development Assistance (ODA) by the middle of the decade. In 2004 the UK committed to meet the target by 2013. The Government proposes to enshrine in law its commitment to meet the target in 2010 and each subsequent year. Whilst the legislation is widely welcomed the Committee remains uncertain that it will have the wider impact claimed. The accountability measures contained in the draft Bill weaken the commitment and provide the Government with an easy excuse for not meeting the target. The 2002 International Development Act stipulates that DFID's expenditure on ODA should have poverty reduction as its primary objective. With increasing pressure to find additional finance for responding to climate change or to new types of security threats, there is a danger that increased amounts of UK ODA will be used for purposes only marginally related to poverty reduction. The Government must take appropriate steps to guard against this whether or not the Bill becomes law. Ultimately the Committee supports the 0.7% goal and feels the UK should maintain and build on its reputation as a donor.

Dated March 2010. Government response to Cm.7792 (ISBN 9780101779227)

Royal Assent, 26th March 2015. An Act to make provision about the meeting by the United Kingdom of the target for official development assistance (ODA) to constitute 0.7 per cent of gross national income; to make provision for independent verification that ODA is spent efficiently and effectively. Explanatory notes to assist in the understanding of the Act will be available separately

These notes refer to the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015(c. 12) (ISBN 9780105400011) which received Royal assent on 26th March 2015.