Thank you, David Melding, for drawing attention to the Brandt report in your contribution, which recommended the 0.7 per cent target. Thank you again for reminding us in terms of the robust and rigorous auditing and monitoring, that 0.01 per cent is minute in terms of the ways in which we deliver and indeed the UK Government delivers its international aid programme.

I do want to set out again a few facts on international aid. The UK is just one of eight countries in the world to meet the official development assistance spending target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income. Less than 2p in every £1 spent by Government goes on foreign aid. Africa receives the largest proportion of UK aid. Humanitarian aid is the single biggest area of spend, accounting for one sixth of total bilateral aid. A significant proportion of UK humanitarian aid was spent in Sierra Leone to help with the Ebola crisis, as well as in Syria, Yemen and South Sudan.

The UK’s aid spending plays an important economic and diplomatic role, a role that becomes all the more important after we leave the European Union. By providing aid to countries to support their ongoing development and growth, it helps to increase the wealth of their population. Aid has a role to play in ensuring and establishing international security. As Julie Morgan said, our party, the Labour Party, supports the 0.7 per cent target. An incoming Labour Government would continue to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income on ODA. Of course, we recognise the fact that David Cameron brought this in in terms of clear Government priority and policy. And although, of course, responsibility for international development lies with the UK Department for International Development, there has been a demand—Steffan Lewis made this point—for an identifiably Welsh response to international development.

For more than a decade now, we’ve had strong and reciprocal relationships with countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The Welsh Government has supported and encouraged hundreds and thousands of people to get involved with links and projects though our Wales for Africa programme. I declare an interest as a trustee of the charity Vale For Africa, which works in partnership with a Ugandan NGO, inspiring and empowering people and organisations in the Tororo district with people and partners in the Vale of Glamorgan. The Wales for Africa programme is very special; principles of partnership underpinning the work, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. Every single project supported by the programme has benefited Wales as much as it’s benefiting its African partner. That’s through health and community links; fair trade groups; diaspora; through professional development opportunities; making a profound difference to the lives of those in Wales and Africa. There’s no doubt that, as a country, Wales, we are far better off as a result of this programme in so many ways, and the achievements have far outstripped its modest budget and we’re justifiably proud of its success. Let’s just look at some of those achievements: 500 unique Welsh projects across 25 African countries; in 2015 alone, 80,000 people in Wales and 260,000 people in Africa benefiting from our small grants scheme. Every health board in Wales has at least one active link with a hospital in Africa. We planted a staggering 5.5 million trees in a highly deforested area in Mbale, which John visited, in Uganda, as part of the 10 million trees project. This is helping to improve the lives of more than 544,000 Ugandan farmers, offsetting the harmful effects of climate change. We are supporting more than 160 placements through our international learning opportunities programme, and sharing more than 47,000 hours of expertise with African partners.

So, Deputy Llywydd, as a Government, we’ve been clear that we want to be an outward- looking nation, open to good ideas, and engaged with the rest of the world. I believe that’s what the Welsh people want too: care and compassion for their neighbours here and across the world. We’ve had many representations of concern and evidence of how important international aid is here in Wales and to the world. From the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Oxfam, you’ve all had their representations in their evidence today. Carol Wardman, from Church in Wales, aptly reminded us that the parable of the good Samaritan, given in response to precisely the question of, ‘Who is my neighbour?’, specifically demonstrates that our neighbours are those in the greatest need, particularly when they are not from our own tribe, nationality or religion.

So, I spoke at the start of my response about the divide here today: a divide that UKIP has brought to this place. UKIP has tabled this motion to promote a mean-spirited election pledge, but fortunately, support for UKIP seems to be ebbing away. That’s why we will continue to play our part as global citizens, be an outward-looking country, ready and willing to forge new relationships, and to reach out the hand of help to those who need it, and restate our political and moral purpose here today. So, let’s oppose this ‘shabby motion’, as David Melding said, and which Simon Thomas says, ‘Makes our skin creep.’