Anger as overseas aid bill hits record £14bn
BRITAIN’S annual spending on overseas aid has risen above £14billion for the first time, Whitehall statistics revealed yesterday.
Department for International Development figures showed £14.1billion of taxpayer’s cash was handed out to developing countries last year, compared with £13.4billion in 2016.
Tory MP Peter Bone described the £14billion on foreign aid as “absurd”.
He said: “Unfortunately, this policy is not going to change under Theresa May.
“When she goes, I want the next Tory leader to commit to cutting aid spending in half. That would give us £7billion to spend on much-needed public services in this country.”
John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The 0.7 per cent spending target is a totally arbitrary and meaningless figure and it is preposterous that the British political elite remain so wedded to it.
“It also fails to take into account the considerable amount that the British public give privately to help the most vulnerable people around the world.
“Britain’s over-bloated aid budget has a poor record of promoting freedom in developing countries and is in dire need of reform.”
Pakistan, now led by prime minister Imran Khan, was the largest recipient, receiving £402million.
Other big handouts included £327million to Nigeria, £326million to Ethiopia, £314million to Syria and £282million to Somalia.
Projects in war-torn Yemen received £205million, while a further £227million went to Afghanistan.
The total amount rises each year in line with economic growth, as the Government is committed to matching a United Nations target of spending 0.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product on aid each year. But critics have urged Mrs May to abandon the commitment so more cash can be spent on priorities at home.
Figures also showed the UK was the world’s third-biggest overseas aid provider last year, behind the US, which contributed £27.4billion to aid projects in 2017, and Germany.
A Government spokesman said: “The UK was at the forefront of delivering life-saving aid in humanitarian emergencies around the world in 2017, from wars in Yemen and Syria to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, to famine in South Sudan.
“We are spending UK aid where it is most needed, saving lives and helping poorer countries prosper.
“Poverty reduction is at the heart of what we do but UK aid is also tackling global challenges like disease, terrorism and conflict, and creating a safer, healthier and more prosperous world.
“This is a win for the UK and a win for the developing world.”
Figures in the report also showed £223million of UK aid was spent in Europe during 2017, an increase of 42.5 per cent on the previous year.
The most significant increase was seen in Turkey – which had received a £42million boost since 2016 – to support displaced refugees in the Syria crisis with vital supplies and health and education, the report said.