Britain must show “much more ambition” in ensuring the disabled benefit from foreign aid and are not left behind in emergencies, MPs said today.

A report published by the Commons international development committee praised efforts by ministers to promote disability rights.

But they said Britain should exercise its international influence more to prevent disabled people remaining “the poorest of the poor” in developing countries and facing appalling abuse.

Committee members suggested aid should only be channelled via agencies which showed they were committed to taking action on the issue.

That could include supplying accessible toilets or moving people to the front of queues of refugees or disaster victims.

The Department for International Development also needed to hire more staff with disabilities at home and abroad to set an example, they said.

It was noted that the department employed only 45 staff with a declared disability — and no locally-appointed disabled staff in its overseas offices.