Foreign aid spending boosted to more than £14billion for first time
Britain is one of just seven nations worldwide to meet the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of national income on third world development
BRITAIN’S foreign aid spending is getting a bigger boost than schools in the Budget as it passes the £14billion mark for the first time.
Data buried in the Budget document said our foreign aid budget will go up by an extra £230million next year and by £190 million in 2019-20.
This is £20million higher than the £400million extra given to schools to buy “little extras they need”.
The boost in foreign aid spending will take the total amount we splurge overseas to more than £14billion for the first time.
The higher spending is because the foreign aid budget is linked to Britain’s national income and higher-than-expected growth pushed this figure up.
By law that was enshrined by David Cameron British taxpayers must pay 0.7 per cent of national income to foreign aid projects.
That has seen the overseas aid budget more than quadruple from the £3.3billion spent in 2002.
Britain is one of just seven nations worldwide to meet the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of national income on third world development.
Last year the UK budget soared by more than £500million to take it to £13.9billion.
Mr Hammond faced a furious backlash over the meagre £400million fund for schools.
He was accused of having his “head in the sand” for describing it as a “bonus” for classrooms.
Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary blasted: “Chancellor says schools need ‘little extras’ when head teachers are begging parents for donations to cover textbooks and stationery.
“Schools have been cut by over £2billion since 2015 – today they get less than a fifth back and he tells them to be grateful.”
Tory MP Nigel Evans blasted: “This is an enormous sum and there is considerable doubt that it is being well spent.
“The Secretary of State needs to urgently review this as it is rising way above inflation and as it stands outstrips the aid budgets of many other developed countries.
“The UK should not be subsidising the aid budgets of other developed countries as they see us giving way beyond them with no incentive for them to step up to the plate.”
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