International Aid

[birdie1971]

In these times of austerity, should we be cutting back on international aid?


http://timesofindia.i...ticleshow/6156900.cms

http://www.guardian.c...mit-gleneagles-canada

[Zeuhl]

The Office for National Statistics website shows that in 2002 (latest figures available) at least 48% of the aid is categorised under the following headings;
Technical Cooperation
Aid in Kind
Investments
Aid and Trade Provision

which suggests that much of the aid isn't simply a cash handout and indeed probably involves the employment of British firms, personnel and expertise and potential ongoing business.

In tough times, I'm sure there are plenty of UK firms and individuals happy to be employed by the government on such schemes.
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[bazwillrun]

and true to form JTP trawls out the usual garbage in reply

[birdie1971]

Jake-the-peg - I've searched high and low for this information so thank you. However, any praise I have for you abruptly stops here.


You state that “... £1.6 Billion or about 15p per day for each tax payer”.
Oh really professor? Are you sure about that? (£0.15 x 62 million = £93 million)

Assuming we're using the technically inaccurate American billion which equals 1000 million, then 1.6 billion is 1600 million, or 1600,000,000. If the UK population is taken as being 62 million, or long-hand, 62,000,000 then the cost per person is calculated as follows:

£1600,000,000 divided by 62,000,000 = £25.81 per person.

NOT 15 pence per person. Did you think that no one would notice?


It's even worse than that because the most recent figure is £2 billion (not £1.6 billion – you're quoting the 2006/07 figure), making each and every one of us in the UK pay £32.26. And that's taking into account every single person that exists in the UK. But not everyone pays tax do they? Current estimates predict that approximately 32 million people pay tax in this country. Plug those figures into the equation and we get £62.50 for each tax payer in the UK.

But I'm sure you don't have a problem with this. Unlike the problem you clearly have with mathematics.

[birdie1971]

Jake-the-peg

Would you care to serve me with an extra large helping of humble pie?

I've just realised my mistake – I wasn't dividing the results by 365. Your 'per day' figures are correct.



I stand utterly corrected and I offer my humble apologies.

[Answerprancer]

JTP is talking sense IMO - very good and obvious sense too.
What's more, I'd love to know how many of the "charity begins at home" advocates have actually spent time in a developing country - properly, with the people.