Rumours abound that the PM's statement.....>

UK PRESS: Rumours abound that the PM's statement on 'Global Britain' in the

Commons around 1300-1330BST is set to announce that the UK's aid budget will be

brought under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, rather than the Department

for International Development. 

- The UK has a substantial foreign aid budget, legally mandated to be equivalent

to 0.7% of GNI. This puts the UK in second place globally behind only the US in

total development aid at USD18.7bn per annum according to the OECD.

- A shift to the FCO is seen as an attempt to make the large aid budget 'work

for Britain' in assisting UK interest and businesses abroad, with DfID spending

seen by many on the right of the governing Conservative party as lacking

conditionality. 

- Should be noted at present the merger of DfID and FCO is rumour, with no

confirmation from ministers.