Government ‘salami slicing’ UK aid budget to find additional 30% worth of cuts is alarming, says Bond, UK network for NGOs

Today, the International Development Committee held an evidence session into their inquiry on the Future of UK aid with Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

During the session, Andrew Mitchell set out the FCDO’s spending priorities and recent announcements on UK aid to the International Development Committee.

In response to today’s evidence session, Abigael Baldoumas, policy and advocacy manager at Bond, said:

“The fact that the government is having to ‘salami slice’ the UK aid budget to find an additional 30% worth of cuts this financial year, in part to prop up the Home Offices’ domestic spending on refugee costs, is alarming. UK aid should not be diverted away from supporting communities already facing climate change, conflict and poverty. This is morally wrong.

It is good to see some extra funding for UK refugee costs being allocated, but if UK aid is to cover all refugee costs we need to accelerate the return to 0.7 as soon as possible.”

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
The recording of Future of UK aid oral evidence session can be found here
For further information or interviews please contact Maryam Mohsin at [email protected] or 07555 336029