She advocates for supporting countries in building sustainable systems that enhance education, healthcare, and economic growth independently of aid.

Committee chairwoman Sarah Champion expressed frustration over the lack of clear commitments on which aid areas would be prioritized amidst the budget cuts.

Amelia Whitworth from Plan International UK criticized the framing of aid as charity, asserting that development funding is vital for global stability and should not be viewed as mere charity.

Chapman is set to defend significant cuts to the UK aid budget, declaring that the era of the UK acting as a 'global charity' has come to an end.

This decision to cut the aid budget, which dropped from 0.5% to 0.3% of the UK's gross national income, led to the resignation of Anneliese Dodds, Chapman's predecessor, who protested against the cuts.

Baroness Chapman, appointed as the UK development minister in February 2025, has emphasized the need for the UK to shift its focus from merely providing financial aid to sharing expertise with developing nations.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has justified these cuts by arguing that the funds are essential for bolstering defense spending.

The recent budget cut has resulted in a 40% reduction in the aid budget, raising serious concerns about its humanitarian impact on lives in developing countries.

Chapman acknowledged the need for transparent communication to regain public confidence, particularly after the reduction in the aid budget.

She assured that the aid budget would not face further cuts below 0.3%, while also promising to improve communication regarding aid priorities.

Chapman promotes a 'partnering, not paternalism' approach, citing a collaboration between the UK Met Office and the Bangladeshi government to improve flood forecasting capabilities.

These cuts mark the first time UK aid spending will fall to 0.3% of GNI since 1999, placing the UK behind several other nations in terms of official development assistance.