Britain 's foreign aid budget is to be protected by law following a historic vote last night – but ministers still refused to protect funding for the armed forces . The House of Lords voted to commit future governments to spending at least 0.7 per cent of national wealth – currently around £12billion a year – on overseas development . The new law will come into force within the next few weeks , after it receives royal assent from the Queen . Legislation forcing Britain to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid is set to become law tonight . Last night Tories lined up to lambast the move , saying it is wrong for aid spending to be protected when savage cuts to defence are expected after the election . A defence think tank has warned that up to 30,000 members of the forces face redundancy over the next parliament . David Cameron has repeatedly refused to pledge that funding for the military will be kept above the Nato target of at least 2 per cent of GDP . The 2013/14 defence budget was £34.3billion – just over this 2 per cent target and down from £35.9billion in 2010/11 , when the coalition took over . By contrast , the aid budget has soared from £8.5billion in 2010 to £11.5billion in 2013 – the year that the 0.7 per cent of gross national income was reached for the first time . When Margaret Thatcher left office , just 0.27 per cent of GNI went on aid . Legislation to set the aid target in stone was passed by the Lords despite opposition from Tory grandees including former Chancellor Lord Lawson , who has described the measure as ‘ gesture politics ’ . Sir Gerald Howarth , the former Conservative defence minister , said aid spending should be cut to allow an increase in the defence budget – because Russia is increasing spending on arms and the Middle East is in flames . Foreign aid spending rose to more than £11billion in 2013 as ministers moved to hit the 0.7 % target . ‘ This is a dangerous world , ’ he told BBC Radio 4 ’ s World at One . ‘ This is not a time to be cutting our defence in any case . If you ask me where you make the savings – you make them in overseas aid. ’ More than 300 Tory backbenchers are expected to rebel on Thursday by forcing a Commons vote on enshrining the 2 per cent defence target in law . Tory MP Peter Bone said : ‘ Most of my constituents would think ensuring the safety of this country is of greater importance than meeting the overseas aid budget . ‘ If the Government is prepared to accept that a percentage of gross national income should go toward a specific priority , it seems crazy that we can do this for overseas aid but not for defence . ‘ We should be putting the 2 per cent Nato target into law. ’ The pledge to introduce the law was part of the coalition agreement of 2010 – but opposition from many Conservative backbenchers meant it never saw the light of day as an official government bill . It had to be piloted through parliament by Liberal Democrat MP Michael Moore . It was approved in the Commons earlier this year and yesterday was given an unopposed third reading in the Lords . n SACKED cabinet minister Andrew Lansley suffered fresh humiliation yesterday after being rejected for a top UN role that David Cameron is said to have promised him . The former health secretary , who was demoted two years ago after his NHS reforms ran into trouble , was tipped to become the UN aid chief . But the job has gone to fellow Tory MP Stephen O ’ Brien , an ex-minister who will replace Valerie Amos as under-secretary for humanitarian affairs .
House of Lords votes in favour of law which has been backed by MPs . Bill taken through parliament by former Lib Dem minister Michael Moore . 0.7 % target foreign aid has been backed by all the main parties . Some Tories say it is 'idiotic ' at a time when cuts are needed elsewhere .