UK government plans radical shake-up of foreign aid for climate change disasters

The UK government is to spend millions of pounds helping countries prepare for future humanitarian disasters in a radical shake-up of its development policy, the BBC has learned.

A new £150m fund will help poorer countries get access to money faster in emergencies and reduce the impact of future climate crises.

The change is expected to be part of a new White Paper designed to make Britain's foreign aid spending go further while also finding new sources of international finance.

Ministers hope the 140-page policy document - published on Monday - can help restore Britain's reputation as a development superpower after years of aid cuts.