THE EU's spending watchdog has published a report which is highly critical of the European Commission's performance in delivering key development and aid projects in Africa. The report by the Luxembourg-based Court of Auditors delivers a scathing verdict on the effectiveness of a series of multi-million pound schemes to improve access to clean drinking water and better sanitation in sub-Saharan countries. Spot checks by auditors found that fewer than half of the projects examined adequately met the beneficiaries' needs. The report concludes: "The Commission could and should do better." This stinging rebuke must act as a wake-up call for the Commission. In these tough economic times it is vital that every pound we spend on foreign aid goes to the right place and achieves the right result...
AS HARRY Truman's team prepared his inaugural presidential address in late 1948, there was concern that the section on foreign affairs was boring. So at the last minute they threw in a short bit that became known as Point Four -- a commitment to spend money on helping "more than half the people of the world living in conditions approaching misery". The President and his staff were amazed when, the day after the address, this "bold new programme" captured all the headlines. Point Four was a public relations gimmick, tacked on by a professional speechwriter to give a landmark speech more punch. But they quickly swung into action to turn their vague declaration into reality -- and the era of foreign aid was born.
YOUNG Cheltenham Town full-back Kyle Haynes is set to join Salisbury City on loan to gain further first-team experience. Haynes became the Robins' youngest Football League player when he went on as a substitute in a League One match against Oldham Athletic in March 2009, aged 17 years, two months and 26 days. But he has since found first-team opportunities hard to come by and made just one appearance last term, in the final-day draw at Stockport County. Now 19, Wolverhampton-based Haynes spent time on loan at both Salisbury and Hednesford Town last season and he is keen to play regular football again.
THE Welsh construction sector showed little sign of recovery in the first quarter of this year with chartered surveyors reporting a decline in workloads. The latest RICS Construction Market shows a negative net balance of 13% more chartered surveyors reporting a fall in the number of workloads in the first three months of the year.
THE TEAM behind the rebirth of a remote Roman fort in the North has been given a major funding boost. Epiacum Heritage has been granted Pounds 30,312 from the Skills Funding Agency to develop learning programmes linked to the site not far from the Cumbrian border. It is part of the new Government- backed Community Learning Innovation Fund and follows a Pounds 49,200 Heritage Lottery grant earlier this year. The team behind the Epiacum project will now spread the word in the community across the North East.
NATIONAL funding totalling Pounds 500 million has been unveiled which could be used to 'k i ck -start' stalled housing and commercial development in and around Exeter. The cash aims to bring forward vital infrastructure projects such as transport improvements or flood defences, which would clear the way for schemes to go ahead, boosting the economy and creating jobs.
Much of Britain's aid over the past 60 years was spent on propping up dictators, the International Development Secretary has admitted. Civil servants had blocked attempts to monitor whether money was well spent, said Andrew Mitchell. The Sutton Coldfield MP delivered the blunt verdict on Britain's aid effort as he launched a radical shake-up of Britain's overseas aid policy.
DAVID CAmeron is facing growing criticism of his move to shelter the international aid budget from cuts after it was revealed that it diverts millions of pounds to trade unions and controversial projects in the UK. International Development is one of just two Whitehall departments - the other is Health - ring-fenced from the swingeing 25 per cent spending cuts announced by Chancellor George osborne last week.
TAXPAYERS are funding aid to Brazil even though it has become richer than Britain, Whitehall officials admitted yesterday. Millions has been handed over in development aid in recent years despite the rapid rise of Brazil to the top rank of world economies.
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