Responding to news reports that the Government’s pledge to enshrine in law a commitment to give 0.7% of national income in aid may not be in the next parliamentary timetable Adrian Lovett, Europe Executive Director of anti-poverty group ONE said:
“To date this Government has been true to its promise not to balance the books on the backs of the poor. But the real test is whether the Government will meet its 0.7% commitment and enshrine it in law.
“Meeting this promise will put 15.9 million children in school and help over 9 million people overcome malnutrition in the next four years. With millions of lives at stake domestic political scheduling must not be allowed to stand in the way of the aid promise.
“The UK takes over as chair of the G8 next year. With the UK in the international spotlight, 2013 is a vital year for David Cameron’s to demonstrate his leadership in the fight against extreme poverty.”
Notes to editors
ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organisation backed by 3 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit www.ONE.org
For further information please contact Katherine Sladden, +44(0)7584 470 644 / katherine.sladden@one.org
