Questions asked in Commons on UK Gov Overseas’ Aid Cuts
09 April 2025
Questions on the impact of UK Government Aid Cuts in Malawi have been asked in the House of Commons following a meeting between Scottish MP - Dr Scott Arthur, SIDA and the SMP.
After making time on Friday to hear our concerns and proposals, Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West, Dr Arthur was swift to act.
On Monday he asked questions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) Minister on what assessment has been made of the impact of ODA cuts to health and education outcomes in Malawi and what steps have been taken to support African countries whose economies are affected by debt repayment.
It is estimated that debt relief could lead to 17 million people gaining access to clean drinking water, five million more children attending school, and over 59,000 children and mothers’ lives being saved in lower-income countries.
Dr Arthur also asked whether the FCDO has assessed trends in tax avoidance in overseas' territories and what steps have been taken to reduce tax avoidance there. SIDA and we see clear scope for innovative steps here to generate the funding needed to meet all of the UK Government’s commitments and obligations on defence and aid spending.
Dr Arthur has also asked longstanding supporter of the SMP, Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP what steps he is taking to help strengthen links between Scotland and Malawi.
Links to the questions are here:
1 - Scotland and Malawi.
2 - Impact of ODA cuts on Malawi.
3 - Tax Avoidance 1 and 2.
4 - Debt repayment.
The meeting with Dr Scott Arthur MP was attended by SMP Senior Vice Chair Susan Dalgety, Scotland’s International Development Alliance CEO, Frances Guy, SMP CEO Stuart Brown, Professor Charlotte Hanlon, Chair of Global Mental Health, University of Edinburgh, Dr Rob Stewart, Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Global Mental Health, University of Edinburgh and Trustee of Scotland Malawi Mental Health Education Project (SMMHEP).
Prof Hanlon and Dr Stewart wrote in The Lancet last month as a collective of Global Health experts outlining the potential impact of the proposed aid cuts.
