How much does the UK spend on foreign aid?

Last year, for the fourth year running, the UK government hit its target of spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on foreign aid.

But some believe that spending money abroad is not justifiable when services in the UK are facing cuts.

With just weeks to go before the general election, Britain's foreign aid spending remains a subject of heated debate.

Despite pressure by backbench Conservatives, the Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that the 0.7 per cent commitment "remains and will remain" if she is elected.

How much does the UK pay in overseas aid?

For decades the UN has encouraged donor countries to contribute 0.7 per cent of their gross national income to foreign aid. In 2015 it was made a legal requirement by the UK government.

That same year, the total spend was £12.1bn. The provisional figure for 2016 is £13.3bn.

How does UK foreign aid compare to other countries?

Only two G7 countries met the 0.7 per cent target last year: the UK and – "for the first time" – Germany, according to the BBC.

Sweden, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Denmark and Norway – which are not G7 members – also met or exceeded the 0.7 per cent target.

The UK's donation is frequently the second largest in the world in terms of volume. Top spot goes to the US, which contributes the equivalent of around £25bn, although this makes up only 0.18 per cent of the country's national income.

Where does our foreign aid go?

In 2015, 37 per cent of the UK's aid budget went to multilateral organisations such as the UN, while the remainder, classed as 'bilateral aid', went directly to developing countries.

The top five recipients of UK aid in 2015 were Pakistan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Syria. 

Why is spending so controversial now?

In the wake of the Prime Minister's decision to call a snap election, strong rumours emerged that she was planning to revise or scrap the 0.7 per cent spending target.

But - after initially refusing to address the issue and avoiding it entirely when pressed during an interview with The Sun – she told voters in her Maidenhead constituency: "Let's be clear, the 0.7 per cent commitment remains and will remain."

"I'm very proud of the record we have, of the children around the world who are being educated as a result of what the British taxpayer is doing in terms of international aid."

Her decision has met with mostly positive reactions. Former chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne took to Twitter to praise Britain's commitment to foreign aid.

Recommitment to 0.7% aid target very welcome. Morally right,strengthens UK influence &was key to creating modern compassionate Conservatives

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) April 21, 2017

Why does Britain give foreign aid?

The government says the money helps to build "a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people in developing countries and in the UK".

British aid goes towards vaccinating children from preventable diseases, enabling them to go to school and helping people work their way out of poverty, as well as providing food, nutrition and medical care.

Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates previously joined the president of the World Bank and various international aid groups in urging Theresa May to maintain the UK's commitment to international aid.

As well as saving millions of lives worldwide, he said aid was "visible proof of the UK's goodwill and humanity", adding that by "creating stability to avoid war and migration" in other countries, Britain was "getting something back" and "avoiding problems for the UK".

Martin Wolf in the Financial Times argues that with Brexit looming, "continuing Britain's aid pledge will maintain its position as a world leader and show that leaving the EU does not mean isolationism."