Queue here for UK's £1bn foreign aid cashpoint: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse... YOUR cash is doled out in envelopes and on ATM cards loaded with money

by Tommy Monk Thu Jan 05, 2017 11:14 pm

Up to £300million spent on scheme in Pakistan, despite claims of corruption
Around 235,000 families pocket cash every three months to boost incomes
They get 4,500 rupees (£34.50) as part of Benazir Income Support Programme
Whitehall officials plan to expand scheme to 441,000 households by 2020
Standing in line, Pakistani families wait at a cashpoint used to withdraw money on cards loaded with funds from British taxpayers.

More than £1billion of our foreign aid budget has been given away in cash over the past five years, it can be revealed today.

Despite warnings of fraud, officials have quietly quadrupled expenditure on cash and debit cards that recipients can spend at will.

The budget has soared from £53million in 2005 to an annual average of £219million in the period 2011-15. MPs last night compared the foreign cash handouts to ‘exporting the dole’.

Around 235,000 families are pocketing payments every three months to boost their incomes, funded by UK taxpayers. Despite judging the scheme high risk, Whitehall officials plan to expand it to 441,000 Pakistani households by 2020.

The revelations fuelled calls from MPs for the Government to ditch the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid.

Backbenchers have argued it is a scandal that so much is being spent abroad while elderly care in the UK is in crisis and town halls are threatening double-digit council tax hikes to close a funding gap.

Nigel Evans, a Tory MP who sits on the Commons international development committee, last night demanded an investigation into the £1billion cash handouts

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4082734/Queue-UK-s-1bn-foreign-aid-cashpoint-Just-thought-couldn-t-worse-cash-doled-envelopes-ATM-cards-loaded-money.html

WTF!?

by Eilzel Fri Jan 06, 2017 5:33 am

Tommy Monk wrote:

Up to £300million spent on scheme in Pakistan, despite claims of corruption
Around 235,000 families pocket cash every three months to boost incomes
They get 4,500 rupees (£34.50) as part of Benazir Income Support Programme
Whitehall officials plan to expand scheme to 441,000 households by 2020
Standing in line, Pakistani families wait at a cashpoint used to withdraw money on cards loaded with funds from British taxpayers.

More than £1billion of our foreign aid budget has been given away in cash over the past five years, it can be revealed today.

Despite warnings of fraud, officials have quietly quadrupled expenditure on cash and debit cards that recipients can spend at will.

The budget has soared from £53million in 2005 to an annual average of £219million in the period 2011-15. MPs last night compared the foreign cash handouts to ‘exporting the dole’.

Around 235,000 families are pocketing payments every three months to boost their incomes, funded by UK taxpayers. Despite judging the scheme high risk, Whitehall officials plan to expand it to 441,000 Pakistani households by 2020.

The revelations fuelled calls from MPs for the Government to ditch the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid.

Backbenchers have argued it is a scandal that so much is being spent abroad while elderly care in the UK is in crisis and town halls are threatening double-digit council tax hikes to close a funding gap.

Nigel Evans, a Tory MP who sits on the Commons international development committee, last night demanded an investigation into the £1billion cash handouts

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4082734/Queue-UK-s-1bn-foreign-aid-cashpoint-Just-thought-couldn-t-worse-cash-doled-envelopes-ATM-cards-loaded-money.html

WTF!?

While I continue to support foreign aid, I do not think this is the best use of it. It should be put to better use supporting infrastructure and developmental programmes. Handouts do not solves deep rooted problems.

by Ben Reilly Fri Jan 06, 2017 5:49 am

Some interesting points made in favor of the program here: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2526108/theresa-may-defends-taxpayer-cash-handouts-to-people-in-pakistan-after-senior-tory-mp-calls-for-review-into-programme/

I don't know. I can see how people would be outraged, but at the same time, I read that the most effective charity in the world basically just gives money to poor people: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/08/23/214210692/the-charity-that-just-gives-money-to-poor-people

I guess the real argument is over whether the aid should be given at all? Because it seems to me that if you're trying to help the poor in a nation very different from your own, give the money directly to the poor (rather than trusting some government official to be an effective middleman) and bet on poor people knowing how best to spend 10 pounds a month.

by Eilzel Fri Jan 06, 2017 6:01 am

But ten pounds a month isn't going to change lives. Take the ten pounds from all those people, put them together and build a school or a hospital or some homes or something and that makes a difference. Handing it to governments or people is largely wasteful.

by Major Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:07 am

Stop all forun aid immediately and they might, just might try to help themselves.

LOOK AFTER OUR OWN FIRST.

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:18 pm

More funding madness revealed....

British taxpayers will no longer fund Ethiopia’s version of the Spice Girls.

Admitting foreign aid could be spent better elsewhere, ministers pulled the plug on the five-strong girl band last night.

The pop group Yegna initially received £4million as part of a wider programme aimed at empowering women in Ethiopia.

Despite warnings of public money being squandered a further £5.2million followed in 2015 for an initiative expected to run until at least 2018.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4095882/Britain-scraps-5million-foreign-aid-Ethiopia-s-Spice-Girls-Mail-revealed-blood-boiling-waste-taxpayers-money.html

by Miffs2 Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:32 pm

And the Red Cross report parts of our NHS are facing a humanitarian crisis Queue here for UK's £1bn foreign aid cashpoint: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse... YOUR cash is doled out in envelopes and on ATM cards loaded with money 2396444674

Queue here for UK's £1bn foreign aid cashpoint: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse... YOUR cash is doled out in envelopes and on ATM cards loaded with money 2396444674

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:40 pm

Miffs2 wrote:And the Red Cross report parts of our NHS are facing a humanitarian crisis

How is it the fault of giving money to foreign aid, that is the shortfall with the NHS?
How can you blame helping people in need, when the Government should give more to the nhs?
Surely you would join me in agreement in paying just 1% more tax to pay for this shortfall?
Why blame giving money to people who also need help?>

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:52 pm

Our money should stay here in our country.

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:53 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:Our money should stay here in our country.

Our?

How much of that did you input?

That money goes to help people whether it be the Nhs or foreign aid.

The conclusion is the same to help people

Are you saying we should not help people based on geography?

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:57 pm

We pay tax to run our govt and services here... not to give away millions to a Ethiopian girl band or for Pakistanis to draw out in cashpoints to spend...

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:01 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:We pay tax to run our govt and services here... not to give away millions to a Ethiopian girl band or for Pakistanis to draw out in cashpoints to spend...

We?

How much is your pitiful contribution equate to?

If the concept of money is needed to help those in need, what does geography have to do with anything?

by nicko Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:04 pm

Doesn't all these "pitiful" contributions add up to quite a lot?

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:06 pm

nicko wrote:Doesn't all these "pitiful" contributions add up to quite a lot?

They do, so how much of a percentage then based on these contributions, should your view have then?

0.0000001%?

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:09 pm

The point is though Nicko. Are you already happy for your money to go to people who are sick? Who are based on geography? When many people cannot even pay into the system, like for example children? Should we stop all care to sick children, because they cannot pay? Hence the absurdity when people bemoan foreign aid to others who need it far more than we do.

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:15 pm

Thorin wrote:
Tommy Monk wrote:We pay tax to run our govt and services here... not to give away millions to a Ethiopian girl band or for Pakistanis to draw out in cashpoints to spend...

We?

How much is your pitiful contribution equate to?

If the concept of money is needed to help those in need, what does geography have to do with anything?

We pay tax for our govt to run our public services for our people.

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:17 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:
Thorin wrote:

We?

How much is your pitiful contribution equate to?

If the concept of money is needed to help those in need, what does geography have to do with anything?

We pay tax for our govt to run our public services for our people.

Our?

Humans are our people are they not Tommy?

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:19 pm

We don't pay tax to give away to any Ethiopian girl band 9r for Pakistanis to draw out on cash cards to spend on whatever they want.

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:21 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:We don't pay tax to give away to any Ethiopian girl band 9r for Pakistanis to draw out on cash cards to spend on whatever they want.

But you give it away to someone 10 miles from you but apparently not 1000 miles from you. Which in each situation, you do not know from Adam.
Are you saying we should not give foreign aid to those who need help?

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:49 pm

Refer to my previous answer.

by Major Sat Jan 07, 2017 6:35 pm

Thorin wrote:
Tommy Monk wrote:We don't pay tax to give away to any Ethiopian girl band 9r for Pakistanis to draw out on cash cards to spend on whatever they want.

But you give it away to someone 10 miles from you but apparently not 1000 miles from you. Which in each situation, you do not know from Adam.
Are you saying we should not give foreign aid to those who need help?

I am for certain.

They wanna stop making babies for us to keep.

Look at the state of our own NHS, that is where MY tax money should go.

by Miffs2 Sat Jan 07, 2017 6:51 pm

Thorin wrote:
Miffs2 wrote:And the Red Cross report parts of our NHS are facing a humanitarian crisis

How is it the fault of giving money to foreign aid, that is the shortfall with the NHS?
How can you blame helping people in need, when the Government should give more to the nhs?
Surely you would join me in agreement in paying just 1% more tax to pay for this shortfall?
Why blame giving money to people who also need help?>

Very little foreign aid does any good. I begrudge sending money to corrupt Pakistani officials when there are people in genuine need here.
Don't agree with more tax do you know how few Pakistanis pay tax?!

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 6:58 pm

Miffs2 wrote:
Thorin wrote:

How is it the fault of giving money to foreign aid, that is the shortfall with the NHS?
How can you blame helping people in need, when the Government should give more to the nhs?
Surely you would join me in agreement in paying just 1% more tax to pay for this shortfall?
Why blame giving money to people who also need help?>

Very little foreign aid does any good. I begrudge sending money to corrupt Pakistani officials when there are people in genuine need here.
Don't agree with more tax do you know how few Pakistanis pay tax?!

They should be paying their taxes for their own govt services...

by Miffs2 Sat Jan 07, 2017 7:00 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:
Miffs2 wrote:

Very little foreign aid does any good. I begrudge sending money to corrupt Pakistani officials when there are people in genuine need here.
Don't agree with more tax do you know how few Pakistanis pay tax?!

They should be paying their taxes for their own govt services...

Course they should

by Major Sat Jan 07, 2017 7:05 pm

They are laffin their bitz off at us being so gullibul.

by Major Sat Jan 07, 2017 7:07 pm

10 years ago some of my friends organised to collect of money for 'wateraid', with all the money which has gone to it there should not be a prob now, they still want more..

by nicko Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:44 pm

I often look at the appeals for this that and the other, and think, I might send them a few bob. Then I see how much their CEO's are getting and change my mind. I send a cheque now and again to the local Cats protection, but that's as far as I go.

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:48 pm

Miffs2 wrote:
Thorin wrote:

How is it the fault of giving money to foreign aid, that is the shortfall with the NHS?
How can you blame helping people in need, when the Government should give more to the nhs?
Surely you would join me in agreement in paying just 1% more tax to pay for this shortfall?
Why blame giving money to people who also need help?>

Very little foreign aid does any good. I begrudge sending money to corrupt Pakistani officials when there are people in genuine need here.
Don't agree with more tax do you know how few Pakistanis pay tax?!

Really?

Since when?

So you are saying where it does help, then we should not bother?

Explain that to me?

That is like saying we should not bother treating a terminally ill child, as they are going to die anyway and that its a waste of money. Is that what you are claiming?

Pakistanis's?

Or British?

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:49 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:

Refer to my previous answer.

I did, hence

But you give it away to someone 10 miles from you but apparently not 1000 miles from you. Which in each situation, you do not know from Adam.
Are you saying we should not give foreign aid to those who need help?

by Raggamuffin Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:51 pm

nicko wrote:I often look at the appeals for this that and the other, and think, I might send them a few bob. Then I see how much their CEO's are getting and change my mind. I send a cheque now and again to the local Cats protection, but that's as far as I go.

I donate cat food - the CEOs won't eat that. Laughing

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:54 pm

nicko wrote:I often look at the appeals for this that and the other, and think, I might send them a few bob. Then I see how much their CEO's are getting and change my mind. I send a cheque now and again to the local Cats protection, but that's as far as I go.

So because some people make money out of this, is a reason to then deny help to others?

Explain that to me?

So we should not help give money to cancer charities, because some of the bosses earn to you, too much money? Who is then going to suffer by such an action? The people with cancer by any chance?

by Major Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:58 pm

Raggamuffin wrote:
nicko wrote:I often look at the appeals for this that and the other, and think, I might send them a few bob. Then I see how much their CEO's are getting and change my mind. I send a cheque now and again to the local Cats protection, but that's as far as I go.

I donate cat food - the CEOs won't eat that.

That is not that which I heard. lol!

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:00 pm

Dodge... you can give your own money to whoever you want...

I pay uk tax for uk govt to run uk govt services... not to fund Ethiopian girl bands or to be given out to Pakistanis on cash cards to spend on whatever they want...

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:04 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:
Dodge... you can give your own money to whoever you want...

I pay uk tax for uk govt to run uk govt services... not to fund Ethiopian girl bands or to be given out to Pakistanis on cash cards to spend on whatever they want...

So you base the minuscule amount of money you pay into the system to mean you can demand what is done with the billions we have? How so? All of which the UK originally robbed Ethiopia and Pakistan of its money through the empire days through exploitation and subjugation. So because you benefited from this wealth that enabled you a better start in life, makes you believe we should not help people?

Explain that to me?
Again your argument is based on geography and ethnicity.
The point is the money paid into the system, is to help people is it not?

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:18 pm

'Demos kratos' dodge...

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:19 pm

You see, when you read behind the rhetoric here, the article is just a front for people to deny helping people. That is the reality here. Its not based on whether the money is being ill spent but whether it should be given at all to people. Its that easy to see past how some are so poor in how they think the minuscule money they add to the coffers. Makes them believe they can deny help to people. That speaks volumes about how some people are today and fail to understand. Their own positions were advantaged from formerly robbing these nations.

by Victorismyhero Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:33 pm

best pay em £34 a month to stay "over there", than have em all come and camp here.. Queue here for UK's £1bn foreign aid cashpoint: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse... YOUR cash is doled out in envelopes and on ATM cards loaded with money 2190311264

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:36 pm

The money is being ill spent and we have plenty of our own people who need help.

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:38 pm

Lord Foul wrote:best pay em £34 a month to stay "over there", than have em all come and camp here..

So you are against people bettering their lives by moving anywhere?

Do you state this to all people?

And who are you to say whether people can move live and work anywhere?

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:39 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:The money is being ill spent and we have plenty of our own people who need help.

Humans are your own people.
Again your arguments is based on geography

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:46 pm

Uk taxpayers pay tax to uk govt for uk services... not to pay for Ethiopian girl bands or to top up Pakistanis cash cards for them to draw out our money and spend on whatever they want...

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:49 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:

Uk taxpayers pay tax to uk govt for uk services... not to pay for Ethiopian girl bands or to top up Pakistanis cash cards for them to draw out our money and spend on whatever they want...

Do they?

So none of this is based on trade with other countries then?

Again you are talking absolute nonsense.

Your argument is based on geography and very much racist.

As the point of giving money into a system is to help others

You wish to be selective over who gets that money based racially and geographically.

by Victorismyhero Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:50 pm

Thorin wrote:
Lord Foul wrote:best pay em £34 a month to stay "over there", than have em all come and camp here..

So you are against people bettering their lives by moving anywhere?

Do you state this to all people?

And who are you to say whether people can move live and work anywhere?

unless they have a solid job offer and/or can be self supporting (like the aussie system)
yes I guess I am against people randomly moving around and adding to our population....

oh and shout it all you like, IMO yu are wrong...humans are not in general " My people"
your view is that of a very narrow minority

like your absurdity about "sick kids"...

we as adults DO provide for sick kids....its "part" of our taxes/NI....based on the fact that "our" kids will...eventually...contribute to "our" society and that fact has NOTING nor is it comparable to, foreign aid....nothing more than a convenient "red herring"...and twicwe as fishy.

as to the hysterical historical wrong doings (which I dont deny) they have had years to get things sorted...and all they do is waste money in corruption and mis spending ...pakistan in particular should be immensly rich, considering its mineral resources...yet they invest bugger all into that.....

by Victorismyhero Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:53 pm

anyhows...when ya going to sit down and start singing about gold? Laughing

by Tommy Monk Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:55 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:

Uk taxpayers pay tax to uk govt for uk services... not to pay for Ethiopian girl bands or to top up Pakistanis cash cards for them to draw out our money and spend on whatever they want...

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:58 pm

Lord Foul wrote:
Thorin wrote:

So you are against people bettering their lives by moving anywhere?

Do you state this to all people?

And who are you to say whether people can move live and work anywhere?

unless they have a solid job offer and/or can be self supporting (like the aussie system)
yes I guess I am against people randomly moving around and adding to our population....

oh and shout it all you like, IMO yu are wrong...humans are not in general " My people"
your view is that of a very narrow minority

like your absurdity about "sick kids"...

we as adults DO provide for sick kids....its "part" of our taxes/NI....based on the fact that "our" kids will...eventually...contribute to "our" society and that fact has NOTING nor is it comparable to, foreign aid....nothing more than a convenient "red herring"...and twicwe as fishy.

as to the hysterical historical wrong doings (which I dont deny) they have had years to get things sorted...and all they do is waste money in corruption and mis spending ...pakistan in particular should be immensly rich, considering its mineral resources...yet they invest bugger all into that.....

So you are against children and the elderly as they do not work then?
And many mothers who have very young children they look after as well.
They are your people humans. You are from the human family. Only you have decided to attempt to distance yourself from them. Biology debunks your reasoning here.
Our kids? So again your reasoning is racial and geographical
One minute you are saying they are not your humans, but making other human children yours based on geographical terms.

Explain that to me?

Did you adopt them all?

Our society is the world. You seem to want to isolate yourself, when you could not survive without medical assistance, if you became ill. If we used your selfish attitude, you would have died in early childhood without the likes of vaccinations. These came about from unselfish people. Again your start in life came off the back of this country plundering and exploiting others. It kicked started the industrial revolution. Which then allowed for schools, and better health.

How much in today's money equivalent do you think we should pay back to those nations we exploited and robbed, that you now benefit from?

Your argument is just racist claptrap

The argument to get things right, does not excuse the nation from doing so

by Victorismyhero Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:03 am

you know what didge...YOU dont know what racism is...or at least YOUR definition varies to no inconsiderable degree from the "correct" definition....

you may of course argue that "morally" you are correct...but then that becomes merely your moral pov and bnor a universal trueism.....
one might just as well say that the person that leaves an injured person to die is a murderer...not true, at least not in FACT...morally possibly, but morally isnt FACT...its merely a POV....

by Victorismyhero Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:05 am

anyways you argumentative old so and so...I'm off to me pit...got a busy day tomorrow....

nice to see you back.... Wink

by Guest Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:06 am

Lord Foul wrote:you know what didge...YOU dont know what racism is...or at least YOUR definition varies to no inconsiderable degree from the "correct" definition....

you may of course argue that "morally" you are correct...but then that becomes merely your moral pov and bnor a universal trueism.....
one might just as well say that the person that leaves an injured person to die is a murderer...not true, at least not in FACT...morally possibly, but morally isnt FACT...its merely a POV....

I am morally and ethically correct and you know this.
Hence your poor deflection onto claiming I do not know what racism is.
You just decided that some humans based geographically do not deserve or warrant aid, based on the most contradiction views going.
How is it murder to not help someone dying?
Love to hear that load of nonsense explained?

by Guest Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:07 am

Lord Foul wrote:anyways you argumentative old so and so...I'm off to me pit...got a busy day tomorrow....

nice to see you back....

Thanks mate

Cool

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