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Minister reveals anti-terror cuts | Minister reveals anti-terror cuts |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The government has been criticised after a minister revealed it had cut back on counter-terrorism in Pakistan because of the pound's falling value. | The government has been criticised after a minister revealed it had cut back on counter-terrorism in Pakistan because of the pound's falling value. |
Foreign Office minister Baroness Kinnock told the Lords a number of global projects had been hit by an estimated £110m budget shortfall. | Foreign Office minister Baroness Kinnock told the Lords a number of global projects had been hit by an estimated £110m budget shortfall. |
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the damage to British diplomacy overseas needed to be "laid bare". | |
The PM had told MPs the Afghan-Pakistan border was a "crucible of terrorism". | |
Lady Kinnock told peers at Lords question time on Wednesday of this year's shortfall and said it would increase slightly in 2010-11. | Lady Kinnock told peers at Lords question time on Wednesday of this year's shortfall and said it would increase slightly in 2010-11. |
She added: "We have had staff redundancies in Argentina, Japan and across the United States. | She added: "We have had staff redundancies in Argentina, Japan and across the United States. |
"Programmes in Afghanistan in counter narcotics have been cut, capacity building to prevent conflicts in Africa, counter-terrorism and radicalisation in Pakistan, the list goes on." | "Programmes in Afghanistan in counter narcotics have been cut, capacity building to prevent conflicts in Africa, counter-terrorism and radicalisation in Pakistan, the list goes on." |
Cutting FCO expenditure on counter-terrorism programmes in Pakistan because of the movement of exchange rates is clearly not the way to run an effective foreign policy William Hague, shadow foreign secretary | Cutting FCO expenditure on counter-terrorism programmes in Pakistan because of the movement of exchange rates is clearly not the way to run an effective foreign policy William Hague, shadow foreign secretary |
Lord Wallace of Saltaire, for the Liberal Democrats, said he estimated that there had been a "20% cut" in the effective budget of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since the Treasury removed the Overseas Price Mechanism in 2007. | Lord Wallace of Saltaire, for the Liberal Democrats, said he estimated that there had been a "20% cut" in the effective budget of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since the Treasury removed the Overseas Price Mechanism in 2007. |
That was a system whereby shortfalls that were the result of exchange rate changes were made up. | That was a system whereby shortfalls that were the result of exchange rate changes were made up. |
Lady Kinnock's comments came after Gordon Brown, during a statement in the Commons, said that the "crucible of terrorism" on the Afghan-Pakistan border remained the "number one security threat to the West". | Lady Kinnock's comments came after Gordon Brown, during a statement in the Commons, said that the "crucible of terrorism" on the Afghan-Pakistan border remained the "number one security threat to the West". |
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the cuts were the "direct consequence of Labour's decision to remove the FCO's protection against exchange rate movements". | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the cuts were the "direct consequence of Labour's decision to remove the FCO's protection against exchange rate movements". |
He said: "Pakistan has been identified as one of the major sources of the terrorist threat to this country. | He said: "Pakistan has been identified as one of the major sources of the terrorist threat to this country. |
"Cutting FCO expenditure on counter-terrorism programmes in Pakistan because of the movement of exchange rates is clearly not the way to run an effective foreign policy. | |
"It is time that the truth is known and the full extent of the damage done to British diplomacy overseas laid bare." | |
The Foreign Office said it was constantly reviewing the precise allocation of its counter-terrorism spending. | The Foreign Office said it was constantly reviewing the precise allocation of its counter-terrorism spending. |
A spokeswoman said its spending had increased year-on-year throughout the current comprehensive spending review period and was expected to increase again next year. | A spokeswoman said its spending had increased year-on-year throughout the current comprehensive spending review period and was expected to increase again next year. |
"Pakistan has remained our top priority for counter-terrorism and has rightly been the largest single recipient of our counter-terrorism support throughout this period," she said. | "Pakistan has remained our top priority for counter-terrorism and has rightly been the largest single recipient of our counter-terrorism support throughout this period," she said. |