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UK counter-terror 'ambitions' cut | UK counter-terror 'ambitions' cut |
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The government has admitted it will be spending "less than we had ambition to spend" on counter-terrorism projects in Pakistan due to the falling pound. | The government has admitted it will be spending "less than we had ambition to spend" on counter-terrorism projects in Pakistan due to the falling pound. |
But Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant told MPs the budget would still go up next year. | |
He was making an urgent statement after fellow minister Lady Kinnock appeared to contradict a statement by PM Gordon Brown on counter-terrorism. | He was making an urgent statement after fellow minister Lady Kinnock appeared to contradict a statement by PM Gordon Brown on counter-terrorism. |
The Lib Dems said government policy in this key area was "shambolic". | The Lib Dems said government policy in this key area was "shambolic". |
Mr Bryant acknowledged that the Foreign Office budget had been hit by the falling value of the pound. | |
But he said counter-terrorism spending in Pakistan had risen from £6.2m in 2008/09 to £8.3m in 2009/10 and would be between £9m and £9.5m in 2010/11. | |
Further cuts could and should not be achieved by salami slicing: it would require us to stop activity, close posts and reduce staff numbers Leaked Foreign Office memo Send us your comments | |
Lady Kinnock, who was speaking at the same time as Mr Bryant in the House of Lords, gave slightly different figures, saying the budget would go from £8.2m in 2009/10 to £9.5m in 2010/11. | Lady Kinnock, who was speaking at the same time as Mr Bryant in the House of Lords, gave slightly different figures, saying the budget would go from £8.2m in 2009/10 to £9.5m in 2010/11. |
She said: "This is a smaller rise than we would have hoped, we are still spending more than on Pakistan CT (counter-terrorism) than we have ever done. Pakistan remains a critical partner in our nation's security. A small number of particular projects that were not delivering as effectively as other projects at meeting CT objectives have been cut or scaled back." | She said: "This is a smaller rise than we would have hoped, we are still spending more than on Pakistan CT (counter-terrorism) than we have ever done. Pakistan remains a critical partner in our nation's security. A small number of particular projects that were not delivering as effectively as other projects at meeting CT objectives have been cut or scaled back." |
She said the government's counter-terrorism strategy was "but a small part" of its overall efforts in Pakistan. | She said the government's counter-terrorism strategy was "but a small part" of its overall efforts in Pakistan. |
Mr Brown, speaking on a visit to Stevenage, said: "It is important to recognise our counter-terrorism effort is also linking up the efforts of our police forces here and our border control system, which is keeping the country as safe as possible. | |
"We are extending the range of work we are doing on de-radicalisation... but we also want to support the moderates." | |
Counter radicalisation | |
The BBC understands the programmes cut or scaled back include education projects and efforts to tackle radicalisation in madrasas - Islamic schools or colleges. | |
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said: "I understand the Foreign Office failed to clear the specific cutbacks through the government committee which oversees security and counter-terrorism. | |
"A senior source said the cutbacks would have no effect on national security in the short or medium term but were part of the efforts to counter radicalisation. | |
"However, the source said the decisions had been taken without being considered as part of the overall government strategy." | |
'Crucible of terrorism' | |
The row blew up after Lady Kinnock revealed on Wednesday that the Foreign Office was facing a budget shortfall across the board this year, which was due to get slightly worse in 2010/11. | The row blew up after Lady Kinnock revealed on Wednesday that the Foreign Office was facing a budget shortfall across the board this year, which was due to get slightly worse in 2010/11. |
She told peers: "We have had staff redundancies in Argentina, Japan and across the United States. | 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." | "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." |
Her comments came two hours after Gordon Brown outlined a range of new counter-terrorism measures to MPs in a Commons statement. | |
It is absolutely vital that we maintain our presence in the world Foreign Officer Minister Chris Bryant | |
During that statement he said that the "crucible of terrorism" on the Afghan-Pakistan border remained the "number one security threat to the West". | During that statement he said that the "crucible of terrorism" on the Afghan-Pakistan border remained the "number one security threat to the West". |
It comes as the Conservatives accused the government of drawing up a secret hit list of embassies to be closed as a result of the sharp fall in the value of sterling. | |
Shadow foreign minister David Lidington said an internal Foreign Office memo revealed officials had been ordered to draw up plans for "substantial" cuts to be implemented "soon after the election". | |
The memo says: "Even with cuts to programme to subsidise admin[istration], next year's admin budgets will still be substantially less than this year. | |
Significant challenges | |
"We were clear that further cuts could and should not be achieved by salami slicing: it would require us to stop activity, close posts and reduce staff numbers. | |
"That is not where any of us, including the foreign secretary and his ministerial team with whom we discussed this on 21 December, want to end up." | |
Mr Bryant acknowledged the Foreign Office was facing "very significant challenges" but denied there was a list of overseas posts facing closure. | |
"It is absolutely vital that we maintain our presence in the world," he told MPs. | |