Last week we reported a further delay in the Government’s plans to bring forward legislation committing 0.7% of GNI to aid, which could now be deferred until March 2015. Andrew Mitchell MP, Secretary of State for International Development, stated that the Government remain committed to the legislation and will bring forward the legislation when parliamentary time allows. On Sunday The Observer reported that Labour MP Mark Hendrick, who was drawn in the annual Private Members’ Bill lottery and therefore has an opportunity to table a bill in this parliamentary session, has written to the Secretary of State to offer to use his slot to bring forward a bill on 0.7%.

The bill will be tabled tomorrow, and forward publicity describes it as: a ‘Bill to make provision about the meeting by the United Kingdom of the target for official development assistance (ODA) to constitute 0.7 per cent of gross national income; to make provision for independent verification that ODA is spent efficiently and effectively; and for connected purposes.’ Watch this space for more news.