The United Kingdom government has no plans to restrict the Home Office’s spending of the aid budget on hotels to house refugees in the U.K., it has emerged.
"We have an enduring legal obligation [to refugees], you can't have that and then the Treasury comes along and cap it," Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen told politicians on the International Development Committee.
Despite admitting to having the figures of how much aid is spent inside the U.K. — as international programs are being cut — the government refused to make them public or say how the aid program is being affected. But the cost is thought to be in the billions, hampering the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s ability to budget and plan development programs despite an additional £2.5 billion (over $3 billion) given to the department in November 2022 to alleviate the pressures. The budget pressures take place amid a backdrop of a smaller aid budget of 0.5% of national income, controversially reduced from 0.7% in 2021.
About the author
William Worley@willrworley
Will Worley is the Climate Correspondent for Devex, covering the intersection of development and climate change. He previously worked as UK Correspondent, reporting on the FCDO and British aid policy during a time of seismic reforms. Will’s extensive reporting on the UK aid cuts saw him shortlisted for ‘Specialist Journalist of the Year’ in 2021 by the British Journalism Awards. He can be reached at william.worley@devex.com.
