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Row over UK terror spending 'cut' | |
(20 minutes later) | |
The government is facing criticism after a foreign office minister said UK counter-terrorism projects in Pakistan were being cut back. | |
Lady Kinnock said the weak pound meant the Foreign Office was having to deal with an estimated shortfall in budget this year of £110m. | |
Her comments came shortly after the PM called the Afghan-Pakistan border as the "number one security threat". | |
The Lib Dems have demanded an urgent statement from Gordon Brown. | |
In December, he pledged an extra £50m to help Pakistan fight terrorism in the region, telling the country's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani: "This is your fight but it is also Britain's fight." | |
'Crucible of terrorism' | |
There is no suggestion that this money is at risk, although the Foreign Office said it could not go into detail at this stage about which programmes were facing cuts. | |
Lady Kinnock revealed at Lords question time that the Foreign Office was facing a budget shortfall across the board this year, which was due to get slightly worse in 2010/11. | |
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 |
She told peers: "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." | |
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 in the House of Lords two hours after Gordon Brown outlined a range of new counter-terrorism measures to MPs in a Commons statement. | |
During that statement he said that the "crucible of terrorism" on the Afghan-Pakistan border remained the "number one security threat to the West". | |
'Top priority' | |
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. |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
"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. | "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." | "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. |
"Looking more broadly than counter-terrorism, the UK is the second largest aid donor to Pakistan and we are increasing our aid for the period 2009-13 to £665m." |