FCDO publishes UK aid budget 8 months late and on the final day of budget period

Yesterday, 30 March, FCDO published its UK aid allocations for 2022 to 2023, eight months later than expected and on the final day of the budget period.

In reaction to the government publishing the allocations at the eleventh hour, Mike Wright, Director of Membership and Communications at Bond, said:

“It is disappointing that the FCDO published its UK aid budget for 2022-23, not only eight months late, but also on the final day of the budget period. This is alarmingly non-transparent and blocks effective scrutiny of how the government is spending UK aid. Government budgets and spending should be published in a timely, consistent, and accessible way so there is transparency for both the British taxpayer and the communities the UK supports. These shocking figures confirm that the FCDO had to reduce their budget by £1.7bn, meaning once again those impacted by poverty, conflict and climate change will lose support.

With the budget in its current form, it is impossible to get an accurate understanding of the total amount that was planned to be spent on humanitarian support, health, education and gender equality. We have no idea how much is actually being spent compared to previous years and are unable to monitor whether the government is spending taxpayers’ money on development and humanitarian issues as promised.”