Originally Posted by Heidigirl (Post 9372082)

Just waiting to hear, on the radio, how David Cameron is defending to the house his decision to increase the 300 million pounds aid we give to India each year! If it wasn't so bloody infuriating, I'd laugh!

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 9372379)

Can see what you mean, particularly as Gov. of India has said that they don't want it; and India itself gives about £300 million in aid to other countries. It is just passing money around.
However the entire foreign aid given by UK will be 0.7% of GNI (the UN target) and there are other countries who give far more including Ireland.
What is important is some sort of control on how the aid is used, particularly in Pakistan which will have the largest amount of UK aid. It is desperately needed there but how will it be used?

Originally Posted by Heidigirl (Post 9372395)

Pakistan will be the third highest amount we will be giving - according to David Cameron today.

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 9372435)

I'm out of date then, looking back on the article I read, it states 'could receive the most' . Still hope they use whatever they get for its intended purpose.

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 9372379)

Can see what you mean, particularly as Gov. of India has said that they don't want it; and India itself gives about £300 million in aid to other countries. It is just passing money around.
However the entire foreign aid given by UK will be 0.7% of GNI (the UN target) and there are other countries who give far more including Ireland.
What is important is some sort of control on how the aid is used, particularly in Pakistan which will have the largest amount of UK aid. It is desperately needed there but how will it be used?

Originally Posted by dreadsoc (Post 9373472)

Personally I really don't care what percentage this equates to, I just object to taxpayers money being given in aid to a country, where the majority of it will go into politicians' and rich peoples' pockets ! I also object to this money on the basis that India's economy is bouyant, could afford to eradicate much of its' poverty, yet chooses not to in favour of corruption and capitalist selfisness.
The UK is on the point of financial crippledom and cannot afford these handouts.

And before you turn this into some imagined tyrade against the poor, bear in mind that the amount from that sum that actually goes to the poor is negligible.

As for aide money to Pakistan, I would like to see a little more effort on their part in the eradication of Pakistan located terrorist training camps first !

Although we have always helped our Goan local friends.

Dread - x

Originally Posted by dreadsoc (Post 9373472)

Personally I really don't care what percentage this equates to, I just object to taxpayers money being given in aid to a country, where the majority of it will go into politicians' and rich peoples' pockets ! I also object to this money on the basis that India's economy is bouyant, could afford to eradicate much of its' poverty, yet chooses not to in favour of corruption and capitalist selfisness.
The UK is on the point of financial crippledom and cannot afford these handouts.

And before you turn this into some imagined tyrade against the poor, bear in mind that the amount from that sum that actually goes to the poor is negligible.As for aide money to Pakistan, I would like to see a little more effort on their part in the eradication of Pakistan located terrorist training camps first !

Dread - x

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 9373518)

, I am proud that we can give something. and are not at the bottom of the list in aid-giving.

Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 9374157)

I would be proud if we gave them nothing, if we told them to s*d off and spend their military and space programme budgets on their own poor.
I would be proud if we used this money for our own UK citizens benefit instead of constantly raising taxes to give to spendthrift foreigners.
I would be proud of spending £300 million on hospitals and other care facilities for British people in Britain.
I would be proud of anyone who didn't dismiss a figure of this magnitude as a pittance by using percentages of GDP.
I would be proud of a Conservative government that stopped kissing the @rses of a handful of demented Liberals with policies like this to stay in power.


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Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 9374157)

I would be proud if we gave them nothing, if we told them to s*d off and spend their military and space programme budgets on their own poor.
I would be proud if we used this money for our own UK citizens benefit instead of constantly raising taxes to give to spendthrift foreigners.
I would be proud of spending £300 million on hospitals and other care facilities for British people in Britain.
I would be proud of anyone who didn't dismiss a figure of this magnitude as a pittance by using percentages of GDP.
I would be proud of a Conservative government that stopped kissing the @rses of a handful of demented Liberals with policies like this to stay in power.


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Originally Posted by Heidigirl (Post 9374394)

I couldn't have put it any better - these are the thoughts of most of the British population I'm sure. I've yet to meet someone who would disagree with this. I'm about to lose my job due to cuts in Education. But what worries me more is the abolition of the Young Peoples Service. They do a fantastic job getting young people back into education, employment or training.

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 9374430)

Heidi, you haven't met my family then!:) I am sorry about your job, my son works (or did) for a career advisory service his job ends next week. He has a family and of course we hope he will accept our help when needed; but he doesn't feel worse off than many of those suffering and being helped by international aid.
Isn't the solution, as I said before, better controls on how the money is spent and on site supervision of the aid programmes.
After-thought: if UK cut all international aid tomorrow, would it help the overall economy?

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 9374196)

J5 if you read my post you will see that I agree about aid to India, and the worry about aid to Pakistan.
There are other countries to which we give aid. Also many people in UK are of a generous nature and think of others, look at the £millions given to 'chldren in need' projects and similar. Yes I am proud that UK has this characteristic and also ashamed that many in India (including some relatives) think of charity as a 'weakness'.
The aid programme was in place long before the coalition government came into being.