Devex: U.K.’s use of aid for COVID-19 tools could breach international rules, politicians say
“British politicians have said the aid budget should not be used for research and development of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments, despite government spending of more than £700 million ($920 million) in this area. Nonaid funds should instead be used to support these efforts, freeing up the aid budget to deal with the secondary impacts of the pandemic, according to a report by the International Development Committee, a cross-party group of politicians responsible for scrutinizing U.K. development work. … The IDC report said it was not clear if the government’s extensive funding of research and development for COVID-19 tools had been done in line with internationally agreed principles of aid spending, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee…” (Worley, 11/13).