The UK needs to address growth and debt problems if it is to match resources to ambitions on international priorities Expert comment LJefferson 5 November 2024

The budget marks the lowest amount in decades the country has spent on development, and it is struggling to fund other international priorities too.

The UK’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled her much-anticipated budget last week, the first of the new Labour government. Labour is in a difficult place. There are numerous calls on the public purse and public services are not performing well. Meanwhile, public debt remains close to 100 per cent of GDP, and there has been a long run of sluggish growth.
 
Reeves argues with some justification that the previous government left her a challenging inheritance – gaps in this year’s spending plans, and persistent debt questions left unresolved. More importantly, there are longer-term concerns about the sustainability of UK public spending – the country’s Office for Budget Responsibility has warned public debt could triple by the 2070s due to an ageing population, the climate crisis, and security risks. The focus has understandably been on kitchen table questions about tax rises and funding public services.
 
But this picture also has longstanding implications for international policy – on whether the UK can afford to invest in its foreign policy. The Chancellor did announce an increase of £2.9bn for defence. But the question of whether the UK can get on a sustainable path to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence is still being worked through in the ongoing Strategic Review, and remains challenging despite increasingly urgent warnings from parliamentary committees about the UK’s defence readiness.

The budget also marks one of the lowest amounts in recent years the UK will spend on development overseas, despite setting an ambition to reset relations with the Global South and recover the UK’s role as a leader in international development.
  
The UK needs to either match resources to ambition, spend much more efficiently, or, in the case of the aid budget, it could seek to focus on priorities that are less dependent on spending. But even this will still require consistent resources, alongside significant diplomatic attention, intellectual leadership, and focus.

Longer-term, the UK may need to consider larger questions: addressing broader problems with its lack of growth and productivity will be critical to fund an expansive international role.

With this budget, UK aid spent overseas is at a historic low

In 2020 the UK government cut its goal for spending on international development to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI), ending a longstanding policy of spending 0.7 per cent. Labour have echoed this, promising to only return to previous levels when fiscal circumstances allow.
 
But this masks a bigger issue. Since 2022, significant amounts of the UK’s aid budget have been spent on accommodation for asylum seekers in the UK. This is within the rules governing aid, but reduces the amount spent on reducing poverty overseas. In 2023 this spending was 28 per cent of the £15.4bn aid budget. In 2016, it was 3.2 per cent. 

Previous Chancellor Jeremy Hunt quietly allowed a top-up of aid spending over the last two fiscal years to offset how much is being spent at home on asylum seeker accommodation. That provided an additional £2.5 billion for 2022–23 and 2023–24.

But Rachel Reeves declined to provide extra funding this time, meaning the amount being spent overseas is likely the lowest its been since 2007 – an effective cut – under a Labour government.

The Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, speaking at Chatham House last month, said the government is working on clearing the backlog of asylum claims, which should free up more to spend overseas.

But beyond this there has been little clarity on plans to address the issue. And costs for asylum seeker accommodation have increased significantly – the UK appears to spend much more than comparator countries per head, according to the Center for Global Development, raising questions about how this spending is managed.

Development is not just about money – but money is important

The UK debate about development has often focused on the 0.7 per cent figure, which can distract from larger questions about what development policy is intended to achieve. As many experts have argued, development aid is about more than spending, and the wider, complex process by which the UK contributes to broad-based growth and stability for poorer countries is not about hitting a specific number.
 
There are things the UK can do that aren’t about spending more directly. This might include focusing on priorities like reforming multilateral development banks so they provide more low-cost public finance, and more flexible and agile loans to poorer countries – a priority echoed by Dodds. It might also incorporate focusing more broadly on helping developing countries attract more investment to bolster growth. 

There is also the issue of developing country debt, much of which is held by the private sector. Dodds previously said, when she was shadow chancellor, she might consider changing the law to address this issue. However,  she declined to recommit to this when questioned at Chatham House. 

None of this can be done unilaterally – on debt, for example, the UK has spearheaded some creative policies. Its UK Export Finance body developed climate-resilient debt clauses – agreements that countries can pause debt repayments in the event of a climate shock – but the UK holds limited amounts of developing country debt. Impact will only come by galvanizing and coordinating others to adopt similar approaches.

Addressing illegal gold mining: International policy priorities 18 November 2024 — 11:30AM TO 1:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 6 November 2024 Chatham House and Online

Held in partnership with the World Gold Council, this panel of experts examines the global Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) landscape and propose policy priorities essential for fostering sector formalization.

In this panel discussion, held in partnership with the World Gold Council, experts will examine the global Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) landscape and propose policy priorities essential for fostering sector formalization.

An estimated twenty million people worldwide are involved in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector, which now accounts for around 20 percent of global gold output. However, 85 percent of this production occurs outside formal legal frameworks. While many in ASGM operate within informal economies or seek pathways to formalization, a significant portion is also vulnerable to criminal exploitation, involving organized crime and armed groups.

In Ethiopia, the sector’s informality is tied to the nation’s volatile security dynamics, with illicit gold mining proliferating as non-state actors compete for control in conflict-prone regions such as Tigray. Additionally, gold is increasingly trafficked through transnational illicit networks in the Sahel and Sudan fuelling instability. South America is also impacted, for example in Peru where the government’s response to illegal ASGM initially saw success in 2019 but has faced sustainability challenges, and environmental impact.

ASGM growth is driven by the rising value of gold, youth unemployment, weak law enforcement, climate impacts, and conflict. While formalization offers significant economic potential, robust international cooperation and industry commitment is required to address the human toll, environmental impact and support sustainable practices.

In this panel discussion, experts will focus on addressing the expansion of illicit control and exploitation within ASGM, highlighting the pathways for governments and large-scale mining companies to drive meaningful change.

This event is hosted in partnership with the World Gold Council. There will be a reception with light refreshments hosted at Chatham House following the event.

This event will be livestreamed via the Africa Programme Facebook page.

The institute occupies a position of respect and trust, and is committed to fostering inclusive dialogue at all events. Event attendees are expected to uphold this by adhering to our code of conduct.

How can the investor community address the ‘S’ in ESG? – the role of social purpose values 16 November 2021 — 1:30PM TO 2:30PM Anonymous (not verified) 18 October 2021 Online

This webinar highlights the crucial relationship between an open civic space and a profitable business environment.

2020 was a tipping point for investors to think and act more responsibly, galvanized by catalysts like the killing of George Floyd and the pandemic. There is increasing investor support for social and environmental causes. Younger investors are placing increasing emphasis on values and social issues in their investment decisions.

The ‘S’ in the Environment Social and Governance (ESG) agenda is clearly gaining traction, but how far does it extend to civil and political liberties i.e. the right of citizens, NGOs and journalists to speak freely, assemble and associate which are increasingly shrinking around the world?

While there is increasing focus on human rights issues such as modern slavery and supply chains, civil society space issues often fall between the cracks when investors consider ESG.

This webinar also explores opportunities and challenges that arise for the investor community in terms of factoring civic space issues into their political risk and ESG analysis.

• To what extent are civic space issues being factored into ESG social purpose values, especially by younger investors?
• What is the best methodology for assessing these issues in order to ensure a common and coherent set of global standards in this area?
• And how can investors mitigate the risks of their activities to civic space in practice?

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2024 — The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) today issued a final rule (Final Rule) to implement Executive Order 14105 of August 9, 2023, “Addressing United […]

The post US Treasury Issues Final Rule Addressing Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products appeared first on HPCwire.

U.S. Space Force has made public the prototypes of its new uniforms, which immediately drew comparisons to those worn in Star Trek and other science fiction franchises.

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The fate of fictional Montana Gov. John Dutton -- played by Kevin Costner -- has finally been disclosed in the Season 5B premiere of "Yellowstone" that aired on Paramount Sunday night.

World Food Day is coming up this Monday, October 16. This year’s theme, Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development, highlights FAO’s work in [...]

Click here to access the presentation by QU Dongyu.

SOLIDWORKS Helps Companies Automate Documentation, Analysis, and Data Management for Compliance

Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a bold move that executives say aligns with user habits, even if it's left some fans scratching their heads.

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi has said his department will look into scrapping luxury tax on smartphones.

OM Ships partners with Christian ministries and celebrates four years of service for Logos Hope.

The Education Department outlines when and how schools must respond to reports of sexual assault and harassment under the Trump administration's interpretation of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination.

A former computer engineer turned motivational speaker will share his dynamic insights on “Bridging the Digital Divide: Unlocking Access and Opportunity in Education” during a Nov. 6 presentation of the Technology & Society Colloquia Series at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

A Penn State Extension land-use webinar on Nov. 20 will guide local officials on the ins and outs of implementing “active transportation plans.”
 

Alumnus Marvin Johnson Jr. will share personal and professional lessons from his distinguished career leading large-scale global pharmaceutical initiatives with new Penn State Abington graduates.

Heather M. Costa, director of technology resilience at the Mayo Clinic, will address the Penn State Chapter of the Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society on Nov. 4. The College of Information Sciences and Technology established the chapter in 2023 and will induct its second cohort at this year’s ceremony.

The overarching goal of HOSS is to support individuals and families in maintaining their housing and achieving housing stability. HOSS does this by providing education on and connection to short- and long-term services as needed.

Governor Markell signed House Bill 175 which will place tighter controls on workers compensation medical costs, while improving the state’s workplace safety program and more effectively encouraging injured individuals to return to work.

Delaware will become first state to prohibit employers from requesting salary history DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday signed a new law that will prevent employers from requesting the salary history of job applicants and will help close the pay gap between men and women. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, the […]

DOVER, DE (March 15, 2022) – The Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Health Crisis Response (OHCR), has initiated a Restaurant Accolade Program to train and educate restaurant industry staff on how to reverse an opioid overdose and support coworkers with substance use disorder (SUD). The program was developed to assist restaurants, hospitality groups, and […]

NEW CASTLE – The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) announces the launch of the Health Equity Advancement Project, consisting of two funding opportunities that seek to develop strategies for addressing rising opioid overdose deaths among Black and African American communities in Delaware. DSAMH will award eight mini grants as well as […]

The Smart Food Program, a first in the nation project, will save food waste and reach families in need by using an AI-driven app to match surplus food to SNAP demands    WILMINGTON, Del. — Delaware will be the first state to pilot an innovative app to help those hardest hit by economic challenges stretch […]

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney was joined by Senator Darius Brown, other members of the General Assembly, and advocates on Thursday, August 29, to sign Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 254, which creates the Delaware Grocery Initiative and addresses food insecurity in urban and rural food deserts. The bill signing was held at the Kingswood Food Bank Mobile […]

[DA] Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Ian Cameron MP.

Explore Impacts of Finite Interconnect Impedance on PDN Characterization

Over the past few decades, many details have been worked out in the power distribution network (PDN) in the frequency and time domains. We have simulation tools that can analyze the physical structure from DC to very high frequencies, including spatial variations of the behavior. We also have frequency- and time-domain test methods to measure the steady-state and transient behavior of the built-up systems.

All of these pieces in our current toolbox have their own assumptions, limitations, and artifacts, and they constantly raise the challenging question that designers need to answer: How to select the design process, simulation, measurement tools, and processes so that we get reasonable answers within a reasonable time frame with a reasonable budget.

Read this award-winning DesignCon 2024 paper titled “Impact of Finite Interconnect Impedance Including Spatial and Domain Comparison of PDN Characterization.” Led by Samtec’s Istvan Novak and written with a team of nine authors from Cadence, Amazon, and Samtec, the paper discusses a series of continually evolving challenges with PDN requirements for cutting-edge designs.

Read the full paper now: “Impact of Finite Interconnect Impedance Including Spatial and Domain Comparison of PDN Characterization.”

Witness reports and Iran’s systematic use of punitive psychiatry to undermine dissent contradict government claims that the woman had a mental health crisis and was not protesting enforcement of the country’s mandatory dress code.

The Kyiv Jewish Forum will launch on The Jerusalem Post website on

On the 7th of November 2024, the Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, delivered a keynote address at Bolt South Africa's Global Safety Campaign launch in Johannesburg. The campaign is aimed at improving safety in the e-hailing industry

Ryan Reynolds shares views on Eddie Murphy's Oscar snub for 'Nutty Professor'Ryan Reynolds has recently expressed his disappointment over the Academy Awards for overlooking Eddie Murphy’s performances in Nutty Professor.Speaking on Variety Awards Circuit podcast, the Deadpool & Wolverine...

This report outlines the cascading environmental, social, and economic impacts of aquatic biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia and recommends ways to develop scalable projects that tackle river pollution and support sustainable development.

The broad application of noninvasive imaging has transformed preclinical cancer research, providing a powerful means to measure dynamic processes in living animals. While imaging technologies are routinely used to monitor tumor growth in model systems, their greatest potential lies in their ability to answer fundamental biological questions. Here we present the broad range of potential imaging applications according to the needs of a cancer biologist with a focus on some of the common biological processes that can be used to visualize and measure. Topics include imaging metastasis; biophysical properties such as perfusion, diffusion, oxygenation, and stiffness; imaging the immune system and tumor microenvironment; and imaging tumor metabolism. We also discuss the general ability of each approach and the level of training needed to both acquire and analyze images. The overall goal is to provide a practical guide for cancer biologists interested in answering biological questions with preclinical imaging technologies.

A national review of social work in Scotland has been launched in a bid to address ‘systemic racism’ within the sector.

Health Secretary Neil Gray will address concerns around his use of a ministerial car to attend football games at Hampden.

How private is your internet address? Very, says the Supreme Court of Canada. Police can’t just walk into a company and demand a suspect’s IP address by saying a Canadian resident doesn’t have an expectation of privacy of that information, the court ruled today. An IP address is vital enough that every resident expects it […]

In Canada, your IP address has the right to remain silent. Elon Musk is suing OpenAI for not being Open. Apple faces a class action not allowing competitive access to backup services and the World Server Throwing Competition in March 2024 is accused of being too violent towards servers.   All this and more on the […]

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback got another opinion on his hamstring and decided that surgery would be the best way to address the injury.