UK airdrops helping people in a desperate situation in Iraq |
One of the many
ways I am proud to be British is our nation’s generosity to those abroad who
are nowhere near as fortunate as us. This year, the UK achieved the UN’s international
foreign aid target of 0.7% of national income. Over the last couple of weeks, seeing
British aid being delivered by the RAF to help people in dire need in Iraq has made
me immensely proud.
Foreign aid accounts for just 1.4% of total government
spending. There is always potential for any government spending to be poor
value and it is right to challenge and question, but finding one example of
wasteful government spending does not mean we should stop all spending in that
department. If a piece of equipment in a hospital functions poorly and is not
value for money, no one suggests stopping all NHS spending. The same principle
applies to foreign aid which shouldn’t stop if one bad example is found by
critics.
Save the Children have published figures as to what is
achieved for children with UK aid. In 2012 it prevented 2.7 million mothers and
children from going hungry, it vaccinated 12 million children against deadly
diseases and supported over five million children to go to school. More widely,
our aid not only helps with immediate crises; it brings longer-term benefits
such as education, infrastructure projects and enables people to better help
themselves.
The UK is truly a global nation and over the last few
years, our country has become increasingly respected and our overseas trade and
ties have strengthened. Our foreign aid gives us influence to improve human
rights and advance democracy. I believe that over the next few years, our
generosity as a nation will be increasingly rewarded through trade deals and
access to markets, which ultimately helps us here at home."
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