Commonwealth Development Fund Bill 2017

A BILL TO enshrine a commitment for 25% of international aid spending towards Commonwealth countries into law

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Definitions

(a) “Fund” refers to the Commonwealth Development Fund.

(b) “Commonwealth country” refers to any state that is currently a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

(c) “Secretary of State” refers to the Secretary of State for International Development.

(d) “Department” refers to the Department for International Development.

Section 2: Creation of Fund

(a) A Commonwealth Development Fund shall be created.

(b) The Department of International Development shall run the Fund and its operations.

(c) 25% of all international aid spending shall be put into the Fund.

(i) This applies regardless of other legally binding commitments regarding international aid spending.

Section 3: Purpose of Fund

(a) Spending from the Fund will be restricted to Commonwealth countries only.

(i) Cases where international aid projects cover more than one country, where one or more countries are not Commonwealth countries but at least one country is a Commonwealth country, may be allowed despite this provision, at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

(b) At least one fifth of the Fund’s funding (at least 5% of international aid spending) will be awarded to the Commonwealth Foundation.

(c) Any funds not awarded to the Commonwealth Foundation shall be spent as seen fit by the Secretary of State and the Department, within the provisions set out in Section (3)(c).

(i) These funds will be subject to all legal restrictions on international aid spending.

(ii) The Secretary of State may decide to allocate these funds to the Grant Applications Fund.

(1) If these funds are spent on Commonwealth countries, they may be considered to have contributed towards the 25% target.

Section 4: Extent, commencement and short title

(a) This bill may be cited as the Commonwealth Development Fund Bill 2017.

(b) This bill will extend to the entirety of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(c) This bill will be enacted on the 1st of January 2018.

This bill was submitted by the Right Honourable /u/hairygrim MP, Secretary of State for Work and Welfare, on behalf of the Conservative Party.

This division will end on 6 October at 11:00 UTC.

Division! Clear the bar.