Downing Street Says » Aid budget

Asked about the Cabinet Office inquiry into leaked letters and whether it had gone anywhere, the PMS replied that he did not know where it had got to, but said it was a matter for the relevant Permanent Secretaries.

Asked if the Prime Minister was still committed to 0.7% on aid, the PMS said that he was; this was Government policy. Asked if it would be made law, the PMS replied that it would be made law.

Asked what happened if Cabinet Ministers rejected Government policy, the PMS said that he did not think that accurately reflected the Defence Secretary’s position. With any Government policy there was discussion across Whitehall and different departments had input into that debate. The PMS said that there was no question that it was the Government’s policy to have a 0.7% of GNI target for aid and we would introduce a Bill in due course to make that law.

When asked from which department a leak inquiry would be launched in this case, the PMS replied that he had nothing to say on a leak inquiry being instigated or started in this case. What would normally happen was that officials would consider the position and decide whether to conduct a leak inquiry.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that leaked letters were helpful, the PMS replied that we condemned leaks in all cases. Asked if the issue was raised at Cabinet, the PMS said that it had not been raised.

When asked if the Treasury had budgeted in a rise in overseas aid beyond 2015, the PMS replied that there were spending plans set out for four years.

On whether the Prime Minister would accept that the aid budget had caused disquiet among MPs, the PMS said that this had been established policy for some time. There was a debate about this issue, but the Government’s policy was very clear; increasing spending on overseas aid was not only the right thing to do, but in our own national interest.

1 Comment »

I hate to remind Mr Cameron BUT IT IS NOT YOUR MONEY THAT YOU ARE GIVING AWAY. IT IS OURS!

If Mr Cameron would like to donate some of his vast fortune to those overseas, he is most welcome to but I want the taxes that you pilfer from my wage packet to stay and help my fellow countrymen in the UK.
Comment by Kelly — 20 May 2011 on 6:08 pm | Link

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» Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Aid budget

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