Go back

Prolonged aid freeze will ‘damage UK’s global research reputation’

Image: HM Treasury [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0], via Flickr

Experts criticise chancellor’s decision to further delay return to overseas aid target during economic crisis

The government’s decision to prolong a freeze on its international aid budget in the autumn statement will damage the UK’s global reputation as a leader in development and international research, researchers have warned.

Setting out his spending plans on 17 November, chancellor Jeremy Hunt said forecasts showed a “significant shock to public finances”, meaning it would not be possible to return to the government’s manifesto target of investing 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) in Official Development Assistance funding until the fiscal situation allows.

This article on Research Professional News is only available to Research Professional or Pivot-RP users.

Research Professional users can log in and view the article via this link

Pivot-RP users can log in and view the article via this link.