The International Development Bill – which, if enacted, will enshrine in law the promise of investing 0.7 per cent of national income in overseas aid – passed its third reading on 5 December. All three major political parties promised to deliver legislation on UK aid in their 2010 election manifestos.

Diane Sheard, UK Director of The ONE Campaign, said:

“This is excellent news. Parliament has taken another step towards delivering its promise to the world’s poorest people. Ensuring that the International Development Bill passed its third reading was crucial in keeping the UK’s admirable record of overseas aid on track.

“We now look to Peers in the House of Lords to ensure that the Bill passes swiftly through the next stages so that it can be enacted during the current Parliamentary session.               

“Poverty more than halved between 1990 and 2011 from 43 per cent of the developing world’s population to 17 per cent.  By making the UK’s investment a legal duty, we are taking a clear step towards eliminating extreme poverty altogether.”