The Observer has been told that the £4.3 billion spent annually on housing asylum seekers in the UK is at risk of misuse and scandal due to a lack of oversight and control over the spending. The collapse of monitoring systems post the merger of the Department for International Development into the Foreign Office has raised concerns about the misuse of funds. Sir Mark Lowcock, a former senior civil servant, has warned about the lack of spending controls leading to potential scams and scandals, particularly in the rapid increase of spending on refugees in the UK.
A study by Transparency International UK also found corruption red flags in government Covid contracts worth over £15 billion, adding to concerns about the misuse of public funds. Lowcock and his colleague Ranil Dissanayake have documented the decline in expertise and accountability in UK aid spending post the departmental merger in 2020, calling for urgent independent forensic audits into the spending. They argue that injecting more money into a system incapable of proper oversight would not solve the issue.
Their assessment comes as aid groups warn of the lowest UK aid spending since 2007, unless urgent action is taken in the upcoming budget. The government’s approach to international development is already under review, with the goal of maximizing impact and improving development capability and assurance within the department. The government spokesperson has confirmed that three strategic reviews are underway to enhance the UK’s global impact and modernize its approach to international development.
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