SNP will give £5m extra to foreign aid funds

The SNP have said they will invest £5 million in the foreign aid budget to help developing countries recover from Covid-19 if re-elected.

The current budget of £10m is used to help people in Malawi, Pakistan, Zambia and Rwanda.

The funding, which the party said would increase with inflation, would be used to aid the vaccine rollout in the countries, as well as for the recovery from the pandemic.

International development minister, Jenny Gilruth, said: “Scotland stands ready to play its full part in global efforts to vaccinate the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.

“It is clear Covid-19 will remain a threat for some time to come and we must therefore step up our international contribution.

“If re-elected, the SNP Government will increase the International Development Fund by 50%, from £10m to £15m, and commit to further increases in line with inflation.

“This will help with Covid preparedness, the vaccine rollout and aid recovery from the pandemic in our partner countries.”

Ms Gilruth, who is standing in the Mid Fife and Glenrothes constituency in this election, attacked the UK Government’s cuts to foreign aid, saying: “Boris Johnson must step up to the plate by reversing the shameful Tory cuts to the UK’s international aid budget and committing additional funds to a worldwide vaccination programme.”