Foreing Aid

[TWR]

Does it need to be lowered? according to the D. Mirror we are 17 trillion in debt, why should we send out money to country's that abuse it.

[murraymints]

I agree..particularly when we give to countries with corrupt administration... funds not going where they ought to... charity begins at home...a lot of the countries in dire need are in the state they are because of corruption and national theft...

[fiction-factory]

Well if we reduce foreign aid by 5 billion it's a drop in the ocea compared to our total debt. We have to rememeber almost all countries- rich or poor- are in debt.
This topic has been done to death on here I think and most people agree we should reduce it, but that would require a law change.
Has anyone ever started an online petition?- if you get a certain numbe rof signatures I think the House has to debate it. You could start one TWR.
Thehouse will never agree to reducing it though

[fiction-factory]

Have you got a link to the 17 trillion figure though please, TWR? I thought othe UK national debt was 1 trillion

[TWR]

The 5 Billion would be better used in our NHS F.F. I was just reading about this, this morning.

[TWR]

D.Mirror this morn F.F.

[fiction-factory]

Yes it would help but it won't happen as none of the parties want to reduce spending. Maybe a petition would focus their minds though

[TWR]

1,7 Trillion in fact, Daily Mirror Comments "MADEUTHINK"

[aelmpvw]

it's 1.7 trillion

[-Talbot-]

http://www.nationaldebtclock.co.uk/

[fiction-factory]

hanks. I knew it wasn't 17 trillion. (However there are some alternative measures that include things like public sector pension liabilities that put the figure at a around £4 trillion). Ours doesn't look bad compared to some- Japan, US- even Germany is similar to ours

[fiction-factory]

I'd be interested to know mikey's view on what the level of foreign aid should be.

[-Talbot-]

Source: Note. The German government do not like to display, or help to find their up to date gross debt. This figure is the reported gross debt under the Maastricht Treaty guidelines

http://www.nationaldebtclocks.org/debtclock/germany

[TWR]

Are you going to "Chip in" "T"? Cut out your Sat Night Dram.

[donny48]

A few years ago whilst on holiday in Malawi, one of the poorest African states, a convoy of Mercedes pulled into the hotel car-park. Three cars top of the range and all but brand new. The first car and the last car had the interior ministers staff and the middle one the minister. They could all have fitted into one of the cars comfortably.
As well as the limos there were the jeeps full of armed bodyguards and with the ministers casual flaunting of wealth he probably needs them.

[-Talbot-]

I've chipped in.

The only problem I have with foreign aid is the waste.
As FF says we have been here many times.
Half the population of the earth can not move to Europe, we need to help make other countries a better place to live ... either that or build a big wall.

[hereIam]

Not just lowered, stopped !!

[fiction-factory]

But that is never going to happen under any government, hereIam- unless we reclassify some foreign aid spending a something else. Have a think about the different types that are classed as foreign aid.

[hereIam]

I KNOW it's never going to happen - I can dream can't I ??