Call to Tie Aid to Reforms

British MPs have backed the government’s plan to increase aid to conflict-affected countries, but want funding to be dependent on transparency and accountability.

The Commons’ international development select committee said ministers were right to increase the focus on countries such as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, they called for aid to be tied to agreements to improve governance.

The MPs are of the view that such steps are necessary because many of the countries have low scores on the Corruption Perceptions Index produced by the Transparency International.

Under the Department for International Development’s spending plans, funding to fragile states will rise to more than £3.4 billion by 2014/15, compared with £1.8 billion in 2010/11.

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