Foreign Aid

[hawksley]

Why does the UK spend 8.1 billion at present , on Foreign Aid,to be increased to 11.4 billion in the year 2014 .??? What do we gain from this expense.???

[Gromit]

Contracts, business, influence.

[hawksley]

Thank you, Gromit. I can understand the contracts and business,but why the influence?

[Ann]

Do other countries give the same kind of amount?

[IggyB]

In April the telegraph reported that we gave the second highest amount of international aid behind Germany. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/9970620/Britain-second-in-world-for-aid-spending.html

There are lots of strong, valid and acceptable political reasons to give aid that will serve to ensure the UKs security, encourage growth and investment. But there are also plenty of altruistic reasons to give aid as well - if people are dying of curable diseases and we have the means to prevent it then we should.

So as far as I can see these are the two things we as a country seek to gain from international aid - political good and moral good.

[Gizmonster]

Hmmm . .... "charity begins at home" ...... we're making cuts in most areas, yet foreign aid is increasing ...... the mind boggles !!!!

[ChillDoubt]

Yep, continually depleting our Armed Forces and stretching their capability whilst p*ssing money away to places where ironically some of the governments are sympathetic towards those who plot the killing and destruction of our troops.

As the Yanks would say: Go figure.

[VHG]

>>>>but why the influence?

So called "poor" countries often get aid from different parts of the world.

This can be the USA, Europe, Russia, China etc.

The problem is if they don't get it from the "west" (USA, Europe) they may well get it from the Russia, China etc.

So, for example, at the moment we in the "west" have a problem with the Taliban / Al Qaeda.

By giving money to say Pakistan / India / Afghanistan these countries are more likely to allow us ("the west") to have our spy "listening posts" in their countries, to allow us to have our "spies" in their country, to allow us to have our military bases in their country, to allow us to put our naval ships in their ports and so on.

They are also more likely to work WITH us by reporting to US any concerns they have about the Taliban / Al Qaeda etc. in their country

If we are "friendly" to them they are also more likely to buy our military equipment such as planes etc.

I am sure the whole subject of aid to poor countries is a very complex one, discussed by world leaders at their conferences, and by senior politicians and civil servants from all countries.

While we may like to think we are doing it to help these countries I am sure there is a certain amount of "what we can get out of it" as well.

[TTG]

Does the aid actually get to the people that need it?

[hawksley]

NO

[barney15c]

If India can fund a space program and with huge economic growth they don't need our money.