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I wonder how many people realise exactly how much money is spent
on overseas aid and development? According to figures released by our
government's Department for International Development they had a budget
of 3,064 million pounds for the year 2003/4 with budgets projected at
5,323 million pounds by 2007/8.
In 2003/4, £714 million (24.8%) was spent in Africa, which is
consistent with their aim to spend £1billion pounds there by 2005/6. £213
million has been spent in Iraq. I am not sure where the other £2,000
million has gone, though the following will account for some of it.
Capital spending amounted to £39 million which is reflected in their
ongoing refurbishment of their East Kilbride Headquarters. The overall
net value of tangible fixed assets is £70 million. The overall net
value of their investments in International Financial Institutions is in
the region of £208 million. Their administration costs rose by £56
million from the previous year but I have been unable to find what the
previous years figures were. They are planning to invest a further £60
million in IT for their various offices in the UK and abroad.
The head of the Department is Suma Chakrabarti, who is the Permanent
Secretary and Principal Accounting Officer, and it is his job to appoint
members of his team. The Department has fulfilled its obligations to
staff under the Disability Discrimination Act, with 31 members of staff
declaring themselves disabled (1.2%). The Department is committed to
embrace the Equal Opportunities Act and welcomes the diversity of their
staff. They have a busy Human Resources Policy Department and a
Diversity Adviser. They provide Diversity Awareness Training to all
staff and a 24 hour counselling service for all overseas staff. They are
currently working on a 'stress' audit.
I accept that underdeveloped countries need aid from the wealthier
countries. However, if our expenditure is matched by other Western
countries, where on earth is all the money going? Africa, etc. should be
blooming and booming. Why, therefore, are we constantly being bombarded
with images of the poverty and suffering and being harrassed by
charities to give, give, give when our governments are already spending
hundreds of millions of our pounds in these places? It would seem as if
those most in need are not those being targeted.
In addition we are spending considerable amounts of money on the asylum
seekers, refugees and immigrants who come here although, admittedly, a
small proportion of this is recovered once they are settled and working.
Just the budget from one year would go a long way to eradicating the
poverty, lack of decent education and homelessness in our own country,
if it wasn't entirely swallowed by bureaucrats along the way.
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