Millions in UK overseas aid ‘being ripped off’, claims watchdog report
April 6th, 2011 - 2:12 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr. 6 (ANI): Millions of pounds in overseas aid are almost certainly being stolen through fraud in developing nations, says a scathing report from a Whitehall spending watchdog.
Ministers have no clear understanding of the “extent, nature and impact” of the siphoning away of aid funds by corrupt officials, it says.
According to the Daily Express, the National Audit Office sounded the stark warning last night.
It came as International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced that Britain’s multi-billion annual aid is to be directed towards more conflict-torn “fragile” states.
He revealed that the coalition Government’s “conflict pool” - money which is spent on trying to stabilise war-torn countries such as Afghanistan - will increase from 229 million pounds this year to 309 million pounds by 2014/15.
The National Audit Office has concluded that Department for International Development was “too reactive and cannot provide Parliament and the taxpayer with a clear picture of the extent, nature and impact of leakage. (ANI)
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Tags: afghanistan, andrew mitchell, coalition government, conflict, corrupt officials, daily express, developing nations, extent, fraud, london, national audit office, parliament, pool money, scathing report, war torn countries, watchdog report, whitehall