China aid is madness

CHINA is a military superpower with a vast space programme. Its economy now rivals the US as the world’s largest and is expected to grow at around 6.5 per cent next year. Its own aid budget is estimated at £2billion a year.

So what possible justification is there for British taxpayers’ money to be spent in a country with more than enough means to help the poor?

To bureaucrats used to doling out billions from the ever- expanding foreign aid budget, £46.9million – the most recent annual total – may seem like small beer.

But this is not a footling sum to public services which are crying out for cash, and at a time when the budget deficit is still some £42billion a year. That some of the money goes on Chinese dementia care is an insult to every elderly Briton who doesn’t get the help they deserve.

Nearly eight years ago ministers declared that aid spending to China was ‘just not justifiable’ and pledged to turn off the taps, yet still it continues. Indeed, the most recent figures show year-on-year spending actually rose by £2.6million.

None of this is the fault of International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who is fairly new to her role and has pledged to stop aid to countries which ‘should be putting their hands in their pockets’. That is a fine principle which the Mail applauds, and looks forward to seeing in action.