This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-12125680
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
UK Trade and Investment staff 'told to use up £1m' | UK Trade and Investment staff 'told to use up £1m' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Staff at a UK trade quango were asked to dream up ways of spending £1m so it would be available again next year, the Daily Mail is claiming. | Staff at a UK trade quango were asked to dream up ways of spending £1m so it would be available again next year, the Daily Mail is claiming. |
In leaked e-mails, Sir Andrew Cahn, former head of UK Trade and Investment, told senior staff the Foreign office was "heading for an underspend and wants to get money out of the door". | In leaked e-mails, Sir Andrew Cahn, former head of UK Trade and Investment, told senior staff the Foreign office was "heading for an underspend and wants to get money out of the door". |
The Foreign Office (FCO) refused to say whether more cash was offered to UKTI. | The Foreign Office (FCO) refused to say whether more cash was offered to UKTI. |
UKTI said it had not drawn any extra resources from the FCO this year. | UKTI said it had not drawn any extra resources from the FCO this year. |
The e-mail from Sir Andrew read: "If we can spend money in this financial year on a one-off basis, then we can have at least £1m", the Mail reported. | The e-mail from Sir Andrew read: "If we can spend money in this financial year on a one-off basis, then we can have at least £1m", the Mail reported. |
"Can you think what we might do with such money?" he asked. | "Can you think what we might do with such money?" he asked. |
Sir Andrew reportedly suggested using it to offer trips to the UK to staff based abroad or spending it on a leadership conference. | Sir Andrew reportedly suggested using it to offer trips to the UK to staff based abroad or spending it on a leadership conference. |
The newspaper said the e-mail exchanges took place in November following the coalition's Spending Review, which set out cuts across the board to reduce the government's budget deficit. | The newspaper said the e-mail exchanges took place in November following the coalition's Spending Review, which set out cuts across the board to reduce the government's budget deficit. |
A Foreign Office source told BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue phrases such as "getting money out of the door" were wrong and totally unacceptable. | A Foreign Office source told BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue phrases such as "getting money out of the door" were wrong and totally unacceptable. |
In an official statement, the Foreign Office said budget discussions with bodies like UKTI were common during the year but a spokesman refused to say whether the quango had been offered more cash. | In an official statement, the Foreign Office said budget discussions with bodies like UKTI were common during the year but a spokesman refused to say whether the quango had been offered more cash. |
'Rigorous checks' | 'Rigorous checks' |
A spokeswoman for UKTI said the government did not comment on leaked documents. | A spokeswoman for UKTI said the government did not comment on leaked documents. |
"Government spend is subject to rigorous value for money checks to ensure appropriate return for taxpayer funding," she added. | "Government spend is subject to rigorous value for money checks to ensure appropriate return for taxpayer funding," she added. |
"All of UKTI's services are subject to independent assessment. For every £1 of taxpayers' money spent, our customers tell us that this generates £19 of additional profit for their businesses. | "All of UKTI's services are subject to independent assessment. For every £1 of taxpayers' money spent, our customers tell us that this generates £19 of additional profit for their businesses. |
"UKTI has not drawn any additional resource from the FCO this financial year." | "UKTI has not drawn any additional resource from the FCO this financial year." |
Yvette Cooper, shadow foreign secretary, accused Foreign Secretary William Hague's financial planning of being "in chaos". | Yvette Cooper, shadow foreign secretary, accused Foreign Secretary William Hague's financial planning of being "in chaos". |
She said: "The foreign secretary has cut spending on long-standing programmes dealing with the fight against international drugs and crime, at the same time as his department is rushing to 'get money out the door'. | She said: "The foreign secretary has cut spending on long-standing programmes dealing with the fight against international drugs and crime, at the same time as his department is rushing to 'get money out the door'. |
"At a time when jobs and livelihoods in Britain are being put at risk by government cuts, the Foreign Office needs to show it's got a proper grip on its priorities and financial plans." | "At a time when jobs and livelihoods in Britain are being put at risk by government cuts, the Foreign Office needs to show it's got a proper grip on its priorities and financial plans." |
Matthew Sinclair, of the pressure group Taxpayers' Alliance which wants to see lower taxes, said: "It is absolutely shocking that while ordinary taxpayers and struggling businesses are working hard to look after their money, UKTI are casting around for ways to spend it. | |
"This just confirms that too often in the public sector spending is an end in itself, whether it is bureaucrats looking to grow their budgets or politicians making a shallow attempt to show they care about standards," he added. | |
The BBC's Gary O'Donoghue said the incident was embarrassing for ministers at a time when they were meant to be saving money, not trying to spend it. | The BBC's Gary O'Donoghue said the incident was embarrassing for ministers at a time when they were meant to be saving money, not trying to spend it. |
Sir Andrew was chief executive of the UKTI - responsible for promoting British business abroad - for four years. | Sir Andrew was chief executive of the UKTI - responsible for promoting British business abroad - for four years. |
Last June, the Cabinet Office revealed he was one of the highest-earning senior civil servants, on a salary of between £205,000 and £210,000. | Last June, the Cabinet Office revealed he was one of the highest-earning senior civil servants, on a salary of between £205,000 and £210,000. |
He left the job earlier this week to take up a new post in the City. | He left the job earlier this week to take up a new post in the City. |
Susan Haird, now acting UKTI chief executive, was among those to respond to Sir Andrew's call for ideas, according to the paper. | Susan Haird, now acting UKTI chief executive, was among those to respond to Sir Andrew's call for ideas, according to the paper. |
She is reported as saying that using unexpected funding for visits was a "good idea and money can be spent swiftly on those". | She is reported as saying that using unexpected funding for visits was a "good idea and money can be spent swiftly on those". |