Ayr MP Supports Bob Geldof Campaign On Increased Aid

Ayr MP Sandra Osborne has met with Sir Bob Geldof as part of the campaign to call on the Government to use the 2004 Spending Review to set out a timetable for reaching the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of GDP on overseas development assistance by 2008.

She said:

'I am proud of the work the Labour Government has done in promoting the Millennium Development Goals including the goal of halving the proportion of the world's population living in absolute poverty by 2015 but I fear this goal will not be met without significantly increased development assistance. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have already achieved the UN target. The Labour Government has already doubled the UK aid budget compared to the Tory Government and has proposals to leverage additional resources of up to $50 billion through an International Financing Facility.  However as one of the richest countries in the world we can do better in meeting the GDP target and should commit ourselves to a clear timetable to do it.'