The Observer has been warned that the billions spent on housing asylum seekers in the UK are vulnerable to scams and scandals similar to those that emerged during the Covid pandemic. Sir Mark Lowcock, a former UN official, highlighted a lack of oversight over the £4.3 billion spent annually on asylum seekers, exacerbated by the decline in spending controls since the Department for International Development (DfID) was merged into the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Lowcock raised concerns about the massive increase in spending on refugees and asylum seekers, calling for urgent independent forensic audits to ensure value for money and prevent abuse.
Lowcock, along with senior adviser Ranil Dissanayake, documented the state of UK aid spending, revealing a lack of technical expertise and proper training for officials overseeing large-scale investments. They criticized Boris Johnson’s decision to fold the DfID into the FCDO, which they claim led to the destruction of structures, skills, and accountability systems necessary for effective aid spending. Aid groups have warned that UK aid spending is expected to reach its lowest level in years, prompting calls for immediate action.
Lowcock and Dissanayake argue that rather than injecting more money into the system, efforts should be focused on rebuilding the capabilities needed to effectively spend and monitor aid funds. They suggest cleaning up the funding system and consolidating the aid budget under a single department to improve accountability and efficiency. The government has launched strategic reviews to enhance the UK’s global impact and modernize its approach to international development in response to the concerns raised.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
