Miss Kynaston (Wiltshire Times, June 2) should be aware of the following facts:
1. Britain is one of the five countries meeting the United Nations’ recommended aid figure of 7% of GDP. Germany, France, Italy, America, Japan and Canada only manage 0.4%.
2. Recent donations have included £1.3 billion to China to provide social care for the elderly, £4m to North Korea, millions to Pakistan (to aid their nuclear programme?) and substantial amounts to train Cameroon tribal chieftains (did Miss Kynaston meet any on her visits?). Some millions have been given to support an Ethiopian girlband – sufficient for 154 years’ activities – and to fund the Solomon Islands’ Paralympic Team, also Nepalese youngsters have been taught to fly drones. £250,000 has been spent to encourage energy efficiency in Brazil.
3. Even the Development Secretary has said that much of our aid money is stolen or wasted and it is not difficult to find examples. The fact that some of the CEOs of aid agencies are paid £600,000 annually suggests that too much cash is being splashed around.
I am afraid that I am still against large-scale distribution of aid to undeserving causes and the idea that our aid actually changes the world is a fantasy.
Geoffrey Richards
Ashton Road
Hilperton
Trowbridge