The Uk Spends Three Times More On Foreign Aid Than The Rest Of The World.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/790740/UK-spends-more-than-three-times-foreign-aid-than-rest-of-world

While our Social care system is close on collapsing, and our NHS and schools need more money being targeted their way, should the UK spend so much on overseas aid?

[New Judge]

“…should the UK spend so much on overseas aid?”

It depends on your philosophy, I suppose. I believe Overseas Aid amounts to around £270 pa for every taxpayer (or about £200 for every man, woman and child). If somebody asked me if I’d care to borrow £270 and then give it away to somebody else with whom I have no particular affiliation I’d say “no thanks”. Unfortunately nobody asked me.

[Togo]

We are probably borrowing the money from the people we are giving it to Judge. You know China, India, or Mexico. Talk about fiscal suicide.

[ChillDoubt]

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/16/uk-government-led-public-to-believe-aid-india-ended-watchdog-says-department-international-development-dfid

We need to start our own space programme, then see if we can recoup what we've frittered away whilst the NHS crumbles.....

[youngmafbog]

The vanity project of overseas aid needs to cease immediately.

We have enough people in this country that need help first.

The notion that we owe the World for past adventures is fanciful to say the least.

[fiction-factory]

I seem to recall that all the main parties (apart from UKIP ) want to keep ours at 0.7% of GDP and that some want to increase it- so i don't see much chance of a big change soon. Rightly or wrongly no PM who wants the UK to be seen as a major player is going to announce we aren't as well off as we like to pretend and we don't want to have as much influence on the world. I think any party that promises to reduce the figure (which is set in law at present at 0.7%) to say 0.5% within 5 years and maybe 0.3% within 10 years could gain some votes but it would also risk losing some- and people may work out that a few billion a year saved is hardly significant compared to current welfare, social care and NHS spending - though a few billion could make a big difference to UK charities if it went there or could pay for the renovations to Westminster or a bit of HS2

[anotheoldgit]

allen

/// Answerbank's specimens of humanity, the scream of "NO I BLEEDIN' DON'T" ///

/// You and the other snarlers Look After Number One ///

Such vile name calling of your fellow Abers, plus shouting can get your posts removed, in fact even yourself removed.

[hereIam]

Agree with TTT, should be spent 'at home' ...

[Togo]

//. Stop stirring up trouble! //

Unbelievable....... the perfect illustration of our "Liberal" colleagues. Always accuse another of what you are yourself guilty of. Meeehh.

[david small]

The answer is blinding obvious. Don't borrow to give away. Doh...

[Buenchico]

How about some FACTS here?

In terms of the total amount of money given in Overseas Development Assistance, both Germany and the USA give far more than the UK.

In terms of meeting the United Nations target of giving 0.78% of Gross National Income, both the UK and Germany are 'on target' but Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg and Norway all give considerably more.

http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/170519OECDData.jpg

[EDDIE51]

^ thanks for bringing some facts to the question Chris, AOG has a knack of finding some very suspect information to support his prejudice.

[Togo]

//but Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg and Norway all give considerably more. //

Define "more" please.

[Togo]

GNI.
//The gross national income is the total domestic and foreign output claimed by residents of a country, consisting of gross domestic product plus factor incomes earned by foreign residents, minus income earned in the domestic economy by non residents. Comparing the GNI and GDP shows whether a nation's resources are put to capital creation or declining toward abroad.//

[Togo]

Britain 17 billion Dollars
Denmark 3 billion
Sweden 5
Luxembourg 1
Norway5
So we give more than the 4 examples combined, and they are held to be models of prosperity, with economies to be envied and copied whilst we are deemed to be a basket case economy heading for the rocks........by some.

[EDDIE51]

^^ It's based on % GDP not the actual amount of cash!
Those countries are economic minnows compared to the UK .

[EDDIE51]

Look at this to get an Idea of how the UK GDP compares to other EU nations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)