Foreign Aid Set To Hit £1 Billion

[ChillDoubt]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2861527/Why-Britain-s-bill-foreign-aid-set-rise-1bn-Cost-taxpayers-set-national-income-risen.html

What? Why? How?
Why does this government and those before it have a propensity for giving away our money on a regular basis, but with eye-watering increases during times of austerity?
Apologies for harping on and I won't post the UKIP Policy link again but this is from it:

Foreign Aid

– UKIP will target foreign aid at healthcare initiatives, inoculations against preventable diseases and clean water programmes with a much-reduced aid budget administered by the Foreign Office.

– British organisations will be offered the contracts to deliver the remaining aid following removal of the EU Procurement Directive.

Again, sounds like common sense to me! Anyone daft enough to disagree?

[jim360]

I don't have a problem with foreign aid in principle, so long as it's well-targeted and well-spent. In common with a lot of my previous views, I'm dubious about the concept of an arbitrary minimum target. Spending money just for the sake of looking good on the world stage isn't really what foreign aid should be about.

[TWR]

As much as a few on here may think regards my views, Foreign should be capped, the aid goes to very wealthy countries that should not have it, India for an example, at this time this country is looking for a cure for a disease that again started from Africa, so I think instead of US ALL THE TIME as goody Goody Hand out we will help you out UK, this money would be better put to use in helping the Fourth coming Privatization of the UK. Wrong or Right?

[SirOracle]

Twr "Wrong or Right"?

Totally and utterly wrong.

[Fusion5]

Yet on the news this morning they were saying we are still borrowing money to keep the economy afloat and owe billions. Utter madness.

[TWR]

Sir, Help yes, but not to this amount, after hearing the news regards the NHS, The Care Homes, persons with LD That was dumped by this shower of S---t, there are may avenue that need money here, £1 Billion, no way, 1/2 Of that no way, help, Yes, but to a point.

[SirOracle]

TWR I do not consider that 0.7% of our GDP is in any way an excessive amount for us to spend on aid to less fortunate people.

We are very lucky to belong to what can only be described as rich country.

[TWR]

Not when I see /hear about people waiting for hours on Stretchers, waiting list as long as your arm in some hospitals, HNS Staff Stressed out trying to get to the food banks Sir. Room for thought! do you not think?

[SirOracle]

No room for thought TWR.
We have hospitals where sick people can go. Many countries do not have any hospitals.
This country is not Utopia I agree,but is far and away better than many many other deprived ones.

[TWR]

We have our own view Sir, I stand by mine.

[SirOracle]

Of course we have our own views on this subject,but I hope that mine will prevail come May 2015. :-)

[TWR]

Labour, without a doubt a £10 bet for charity?

[SirOracle]

Presumably for an overseas charity TWR !!!

[TWR]

Without a Doubt, maybe our Nigel?

[SirOracle]

Is he being deported TWR ?!!

[TWR]

I have donate a £100 on the strength that he has not Sir lol

[SirOracle]

There's one born every minute as the saying goes TWR ;-)

[New Judge]

"..0.7% of GDP doesn't sound a large commitment to me"

"...Fixing on a % if GDP is a very satisfactory way of allocating money for aid projects."

Assessing anything on the basis of a percentage of GDP is ridiculous. GDP is effectively the "turnover" of the country. Whilst the UK's GDP has recently risen, our "profit" has not. The country is still spending far more than it earns. If the UK was a company it would be considerably in debt and that debt continues to rise. Companies are not taxed on their turnover they are taxed on profit. The UK makes no profit and to provide benevolence on the basis of turnover is stupid.

Having said that, even if the country was in profit, provision of overseas aid is rather like standing in the rain tearing up £50 notes. There is nothing in it for the UK. It is a waste of money of the first order and a betrayal of taxpayers' trust.

[Gromit]

New Judge,

The country has borrowed money since the 17th century. You seem to be claiming we have been bankrupt for four centuries. We haven't.
Borrowing money is a normal process for any country (or company). As long as we are able to function and pay back our debts, then that is perfectly fine.

Part of the reason our economy is stagnant is precisely because companies are unable to loan money from the banks (and go into debt). It is people like you, and the idiots in Osborne's department who have never worked in a commercial environment, who don't think that is a problem.

[baza]

We are not able to pay off the debt, we are in the same position as those who use payday loans. The sooner the election and we get UKIP in the better.