Discuss - Europe International Aid - Reduce the 0.7% of income spent on international aid

Is the UK target of 0.7% Gross National Income to be spent on international aid too high?

Conservative "The coalition Government remains committed to investing 0.7% of our national income in overseas development. As part of this, we will continue to support the private member's bill going through Parliament, which looks to enshrine this commitment in law." - Government spokesperson

DUP We believe that the UN target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on international aid by 2013 is a target which should be met. It is important however that this money is seen to be delivering the maximum possible benefits for those who are in most need. We believe there must be measurable targets put in place to ensure that aid is being put to the best and most efficient use.

Green Party "British aid should become 0.7 percent of Gross National Product (GNP) within five years and 1.0 percent of GNP within ten years. Emergency aid, aid to dependent territories and debt relief should be an addition to this." Source: Green Party website, http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/ip.html

Labour "If the vote passes today [on the 5th Dec 2014], the UK’s historic commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our gross national income on international development annually will become law." "If the Bill passes, Britain will become the first country in the G7 to enshrine in law the 0.7 per cent commitment." Source: Labour Party, http://www.labour.org.uk/blog/entry/the-poorest-people-on-the-planet-deserve-more-than-charity-they-deserve-jus

Liberal Democrat "Liberal Democrats will increase the UK' aid budget to reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNI by 2013 and enshrine that target in law." Liberal Democrat Manifesto

SNP "An independent Scotland could be a global leader in international development and as Scotland’s Future makes clear we would enshrine in law a commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on international aid. This goal was set by the UN in 1970, but the UK has only met the target once in 44 years." Source: SNP website, http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/may/scotland-can-lead-way-international-development

UKIP "Next year Britain will be sending £13billion abroad in foreign aid too. In the current financial climate and with living standards still falling for many Britons, this is decadence of a very high order." Nigel Farage writing in the Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/budget2014/article-2584398/NIGEL-FARAGE-Billions-Brussels-foreign-aid-time-austerity-decadence-high-order.html

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