Why is it automatically foreign aid that needs to be diverted to the flooded areas?

[VintageDresses]

The papers seem to be full of it this morning, as is FB but why is it always foreign aid that called upon?

Why not the Arts, or conservation or sport funding or the vastly bigger spending areas of health, education and defence. Why not divert all lottery funding there for a few months?

Is it even necessary? Whilst the situation must be truly awful for those affected, the financial losses will be mostly covered by insurance and or paid for by local councils (which the govt emergency fund will have to support). Those who aren't insured will be cared for in one way or another by the LA. Obviously the circumstances won't be great but a lot better than those in need of the foreign aid.

It just seems to me an excuse for generally unpleasant people to be unpleasant in a good cause and a selfish call for people to be helped in the only way they can think of that doesn't affect "us"

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

Always? So is foreign aid often diverted elsewhere then? Where?

[VintageDresses]

No, I'm not saying it is diverted but that there are always calls for it to be diverted

[Floralnomad]

Because foreign aid is charity and as the saying goes charity begins at home . I'm amazed at all the aid adverts that say the government will match my donation , why don't they match my donation to British charities ? Im in no way opposed to foreign aid but it does seem a bit skewed at times .

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

Yes I think helping the flood victims is very necessary

Money needs to be put into its prevention as well. No point patching up houses if it's going to happen again next year

Time to stop cutting our own budgets and time to put more money into our own country and its basic framework...after all, we are bringing thousands of refugees over here, not great to resettle them then let them get flooded

[VintageDresses]

Ah, Charity Begins at Home. One of the most misused proverbs in the English language.

It actually means that decent loving behaviour at home will lead to decent loving behaviour in the wider world. The complete opposite of keeping your charity at home.

"We" can afford foreign aid surely, if we can afford sports and arts facilities?

[JassyRadlett]

Because foreign aid is charity and as the saying goes charity begins at home . I'm amazed at all the aid adverts that say the government will match my donation , why don't they match my donation to British charities ? Im in no way opposed to foreign aid but it does seem a bit skewed at times .

A lot of foreign aid is in our own self-interest. That is if we want a relatively stable world and one where flooding like this isn't absolutely normal.

[VintageDresses]

Yes, Jessy. The main reason for foreign aid is really to keep trouble from our doorstep, even if we try to pretend otherwise

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

Which sports and arts facilities do you even mean?

[VintageDresses]

Anything that receives government funding

[DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn]

Only the terminally stupid would think diverting funds from health or education to flooding would be a sensible idea.

"Foreign aid" is an easy target as it is seen as non essential.

[VintageDresses]

Well yes Turkey,that's how it's seen. That's what I was hoping to discuss. Is it less essential than health or defense, in view of all the benefits it brings at home and abroad?

[TheDrsDocMartens]

There's EU funding that can be given to the UK in these sort of situations but Cameron hasn't applied for it. Was in theGuardian last week.

[prh47bridge]

I'm amazed at all the aid adverts that say the government will match my donation , why don't they match my donation to British charities ?

The idea is that this gives the public some say in how the international development budget is spent. This particular scheme will award up to £120M over 3 years. The government gives over 100 times that much to UK charities every year.

[chantico]

"Why is it automatically foreign aid that needs to be diverted to the flooded areas?

Because there are a lot of UKIPpers who post in support of their policies, and this is one of their better known ones.

[Philoslothy]

Because there are a lot of racists who don't really care if somebody from a different country dies and this gives them a cover for their vile views,

[var123]

I guess the money has to come from somewhere - where would you suggest? NHS? Education? Pensions? Welfare State? Or should we not bother paying the army? Let me guess... tax the rich?

[VintageDresses]

I made some suggestions var123, but aren't any of yours worth a discussion? Foreign Aid would make a tiny dent in any of them

[VintageDresses]

Which countries with largely white population receive aid from UK Giraffe? Genuine question - I can't think of any

[VintageDresses]

Apart from the fact that no white people of Christian/European origin receive it?