AS: Spending Review: Raise of DfID budget by 37% beggars belief

21 Oct 2010 04:52 PM

In response to the CSR , Sam Bowman, Head of Research at the Adam Smith Institute, argues that the increase in DfID’s budget is indefensible in light of cuts to other departments:

"The Comprehensive Spending Review today makes necessary cuts in government domestic spending, but will raise the budget of the Department for International Development (DfID) by 37%.

“For example, the Treasury’s figures show a shrinkage of 23% in cumulative real terms for the Home Office between now and 2015 while at the same time showing an increase in DfID’s budget of 37% in cumulative real terms.

“Budgetary cuts are sorely needed, and to increase spending overseas while cutting spending in Britain beggars belief.

“Overseas aid is a waste of taxpayers’ money that props up dictatorships in sub-Saharan Africa and funds fast-growing countries like India, whose economy has grown by nearly 8.8% in 2010 and which has its own space and nuclear weapons programmes.

“Why the Chancellor thinks that the British taxpayer should fund the Indian space programme is unclear. At a time when the British government is cutting spending domestically it makes no sense to increase overseas aid spending. The government should slash DfID's budget and end this budgetary double standard.”