Business secretary said aid-funded research cuts were “regrettable” but had not damaged UK’s international standing
The business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has admitted that cuts to the UK international aid budget have fallen “disproportionately” on research but said this had not damaged international partnerships.
Speaking to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on 15 April, Kwarteng said the government’s decision to cut UK aid spending from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of gross national income, combined with a drop in GNI during 2021, meant there was a 35 per cent drop in Official Development Assistance (ODA).