Aid budget to rise to £10.6 billion in 2014-15.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....gn-aid-donations.html

/// Microsoft founder Mr Gates urged Britons to be proud of the positive impact the donations were having on the world’s poorest people. ///

That's easily said by a billionaire, but I wonder if all those who are experiencing difficulties due to the cut-backs, will be sticking their chests out with pride and patting themselves on the back?

The reader's comment from 'chaddie' sums it up pretty well.

[Gromit]

It depends how petty the person is.

They may be having a *** time but be thankful you are not starving and can drink clean water and don't have diseases and your kids are getting an education and don't begrudge some a bit of money to help a fellow human who is having an even more shittier time.

Or they could be selfish, and don't want to help anyone be they starving children or unemployed single mothers.

[sandyRoe]

Even when I was living on social security I regularly gave to charity.

[anotheoldgit]

On or two 'petty persons' then it seems.

http://www.spectator....on-thinks-it-is.thtml

/// The poll shows that while the public is indeed split fairly evenly on the general principle of aid (41 per cent in favour, 38 per cent against), when it comes to the government's promise to increase the aid budget by a third, those against outnumber those for by more than 2 to 1. ///

[Dodger666]

I thought donating to charity was voluntary.

I already donate £3000/year to charity cases in this country via income tax on my pension. I don't want to give any more that ends up in despots pockets or to fund Indian and Chinese spaceships..

[emmie]

charity begins at home, and they may be having a terrible time, but many of their leaders are not, posh palaces, rolls royces in the grounds, jets to fly them anywhere in the world and a pat on the back from our leaders when they show up here. I give to those i believe in here in Britain, MacMillan Cancer Care, Royal British Legion, RNLI

[Everhelpful]

I am with em10 on this one,Charity begins at home.

[Brenden]

How I agree with you em, I also give to the same charities plus local airlift helicopter - stopped oxfam years ago when I saw what the monies what being spent on.

[LoftyLottie]

I give to charities of my choosing, but I am proud of Britain's donations having an impact on the world's poorest people. We have no concept in this country of what real poverty, starvation and disease is like.

Yes we are having difficulties due to the cut backs - hardly comparable is it?

I am proud to be a citizen of this country. There is a lot wrong in this country, but there is a lot right as well.

In other words I am with Gromit on this.

[Philtaz]

I am continually perplexed as to why this country has to give away so much of our taxes.

Over the next 4/5 years we will be donating £245 million to fund treatment of tropical diseases (not a major problem in the UK as far as I'm aware) yet we have servicemen short of equipment, charities set up to aid funding for their recovery at Headley Court etc and children whose families have to raise funds to send them for life saving treatment abroad.

Some things are just nor right nor justifiable.

[owdhamer]

we seem to to have a lot of the third world in owdham ,how are you fixed mr gates

[rov1100]

Its a pity the UK government doesn't stick to the Micawber saying

""Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.""

We have been living in hoc for too long and giving away wealth we don't have is living in a fool's paradise.

[Zeuhl]

em and everhelpful (irony indeed)

<<Charity begins at home>>

What you actually seem to be saying is that Charity STOPS at home

[Zeuhl]

According to the breakdown of income tax useage in yesterday's Daily Express an average earner on £26,000 pays £6134 income tax of which £60 is spent on Overseas Aid.

[Philtaz]

So with the five-fold increase on spending on tropical diseases, does that mean the £60 will be increased incrementally year on year for the next five?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16653101

When do other countries spend money on us? In these times when governments are preaching austerity and we're bailing out other countries in the eurozone whilst seeing pensions and salaries decreased (unless your'e the head of the RBS and will have to make do with less than a million pound bonus this year), why does our government feel the need to give away so much of our taxes?

[Dodger666]

Zeuhl

I think they would have said that someone earning £26,000/year would have paid £6134 income tax including National Insurance contributions.

If that's correct it still means that person is losing 23% of their wages whereas someone on £26,000 benefits will pay nothing, nout, zilch. How can that be fair?

[Zeuhl]

<spending on tropical diseases

When do other countries spend money on us? >

The hospitals for tropical diseases in the UK mostly treat UK citizens who have returned home from abroad.

Dodger - sorry, I can't see what the fairness of people on benefits has to do with Overseas Aid going up ...

[Philtaz]

Sorry Zeuhl but I fail to see how the miniscule (in comparison) amount of people treated here for tropical diseases warrants the sort of expenditure we're talking about.

And any UK citizens returning from abroad with such diseases have already contributed to such costs via tax and national insurance anyway, haven't they?

[Zeuhl]

<<warrants the sort of expenditure we're talking about. >>

which expenditure are you referring to - where is the sum spent on tropical diseases quoted?

[Zeuhl]

Philtaz

Got it! your link above.

Well that certainly seems a much better investment in raising living standards in the 3rd world than the often criticised 'sticking plaster' aid packages. Truly 'Overseas Development' and as we are a trading nation we rarher rely on other parts of the world developing into customers and trading partners.