Ann today welcomed a new report which praises our country for continuing to honour its international aid commitments.

The Annual 'DATA Report' of the ONE Campaign heralds our country as “on target to be the first G8 country to meet the UN goal of 0.7%”.  
 
The report also says that the “UK has also played a vital role in ensuring that the G20 give focus to Africa and the poorest countries in their response to the global financial crisis”.
 
Ann McKechin MP said:
 

“I welcome this vote of confidence in the UK's effective efforts to boost international development and aid.
 
"The Labour Government is taking the lead on delivering the commitments Gordon Brown made at the Gleneagles because we are committed to social justice both at home and abroad.
 
"These promises were not just 'fair weather' commitments.  Our progress on our promises is a real demonstration of our deep and passionate commitment to a fairer world.  We will push on with greater confidence towards meeting our obligations to the world's poorest."

"While other countries have been criticised in this report, I am pleased that the UK has been acknowledged as 'on target to be the first G8 country to meet the UN goal of 0.7%'. The report also highlights Gordon Brown's 'vital role in ensuring that the G20 give focus to Africa and the poorest countries in their response to the global financial crisis'."

• The Gleneagles promises were agreed in 2005 to achieve specific development goals laid out by the Commission for Africa – a partnership between African countries and the international community. Web site: www.commissionforafrica.org.
• The 2009 DATA Report from the international advocacy group the ONE campaign makes an overall assessment that the UK has "met its 2007/8 commitment to double bilateral ODA (Official Development Assistance) to sub-Saharan Africa" and describes Labour’s recent Budget commitment to increase aid to meet the 0.7% target as "historic". On Labour’s future commitments to Africa, the report concludes that "the UK will meet its 2010 target".
• The report says that the UK "remains the clear leader" amongst the G7 on aid effectiveness and education. They also say that Labour played a "vital role" in putting Africa and the situation of the poorest countries at the heart of the recent London G20 summit, convened by Gordon Brown.    
• The report endorses Labour’s decision not to cut spending on the world’s poorest people in this year’s Budget, saying :"The UK deserves great credit for sticking to these monetary spending projections during an economic crisis...[the UK] will be well on its way to reach 0.7% ODA/GNI in 2013 as planned."