This week marked a busy week in Parliament, with the Government pursuing its dynamic and progressive legislative agenda – including to significantly reform the House of Lords – at pace. Aside from the lively debate in the Commons Chamber, though, an important (and often overlooked) Parliamentary development took place – elections onto Parliamentary Select Committees. I was honoured to be elected onto the International Development Committee, and look forward to applying my professional background to the crucial work of scrutinising our international development policy.

Before entering politics, I spent many years working with British International Investment and the Finnish Development Finance Institution, overseeing industrial investments across more than a dozen developing countries. This experience gave me important insights into how development finance can be a powerful tool for creating long-term, sustainable growth — both for the developing world and the UK. Yet, too few people are aware of the crucial role development finance plays in UK development policy. It represents more than £10-billion of British taxpayers' money, and with proper oversight, it can be an incredibly effective means of fostering equitable global development as well as generating a return on British taxpayers’ pounds invested.

My priorities on the Committee will include fostering climate resilience, protecting biodiversity, and promoting opportunities for women and girls — all areas where investment can lead to profound, lasting change.

I know all too well that many of my constituents are sceptical about the effectiveness of international aid or even see it as a misuse of public funds at a time when many in my constituency are struggling. The UK is already substantially below its UN commitment of 0.7 of GNI. Increasing that level if fiscal conditions allow should not mean that taxpayers’ money is frittered away.

That is why I am committed to ensuring that our development assistance is money well spent or invested. As part of my work on the committee, I will push for greater scrutiny and transparency so that every pound of British taxpayers’ money delivers tangible results. Development finance, in particular, is a powerful tool that can generate economic growth and stability in developing regions, while offering a clear return on investment for the UK. My goal is to harness these tools effectively so that we can do good in the world while ensuring value for money at home.

Ultimately, my work on the International Development Select Committee is about addressing global challenges while ensuring our efforts lead to meaningful and lasting impact. A strong and effective development strategy promotes global stability, which in turn opens up new opportunities for British trade, business, and investment. This directly benefits communities across the UK, including here in Cornwall. I look forward to championing initiatives that drive progress on the world stage, while ensuring our development efforts are impactful and well-targeted.

Noah Law

Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay