Government should be “more ambitious” in addressing Home Office aid raids, Committee Chair says

“It is disappointing the Government has decided to be bound by Sunak’s unachievable fiscal rules regarding foreign aid spend.

“Whilst I’m relieved the Government has recognised the foreign aid budget must be protected from paying the Home Office costs of housing asylum seekers, it should have been more ambitious in addressing this.

“For too long, the Home Office has been given a blank cheque to a budget already victim to significant cuts. The former International Development Committee uncovered this scandal and has repeatedly called for this practice to end.

“I am glad the Chancellor agrees the Home Office needs a long-term funding solution instead of pilfering funds designed to support the poorest in the world. I am pleased too that the Government has committed more funding to the BBC World Service, which will hopefully prevent the need for immediate cuts.

“But today’s announcements are just a nod in the right direction. As the Committee returns to these issues in the coming months, I look forward to scrutinising how the Government plans to deliver on its development ambitions in such a restricted fiscal reality.”

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