Appeal for overhaul of

BRITAIN’S foreign aid bill has soared to £15billion – £1.5billion more than expected, it was claimed yesterday.

Officially £13.4billion was spent in 2016 – and is expected to be around the same sum in 2017/8.

The figure is calculated because of a legal commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI).

But Tory MP Bob Seely said the bill is actually much higher because hundreds of millions spent are not classed as Overseas Development Assistance (ODA).

Mr Seely was unveiling a Henry Jackson Society think-tank report which calls for an overhaul of rules so that ODA cash can be used for non-economic goals.

“One of the bizarre things we found when we were doing our research is that we don’t know exactly how much money we spend abroad. People complain about the 0.7 target. Actually we spend more than 0.7, maybe we spend more than 0.8 abroad,” he said.

Of the £1.182billion spent from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund last year Mr Seely said £627million does not meet the criteria for ODA. Some