OVER-50S SAY CUT INTERNATIONAL AID BUDGETS IN LINE WITH UK AUSTERITY PLANS.

EMMA SOAMES

SAGA MAGAZINE
PRESS RELEASE

August 9, 2010.

OVER-50S SAY CUT INTERNATIONAL AID BUDGETS IN LINE WITH UK AUSTERITY PLANS.

Three-quarters of over-50s say that overseas aid budgets should be cut in the same spirit as domestic austerity measures.

Of 13,391 over-50s surveyed by Populus on behalf of Saga - the lifestyle, financial services and travel organisation catering for the older generations - 76% say that a pragmatic and realistic approach should be taken when it comes to spending abroad, and budgets should be cut.

Emma Soames, editor-at-large of Saga Magazine, said: “We’re a generous nation, but the elderly in the UK have been told they, like the rest of us, must accept austerity plans laid down by the government.

“But there is danger of injustice if international aid budgets favour foreign needs over domestic spending needs.

“The Saga Generation recognises that there’s an ebb and flow to the financial fortunes of the UK, and when there is plenty to go round then we should help the less fortunate abroad.

“However, when times are tight then the money should stay within our shores; by looking after our own in the short-term in difficult times, we are able to amass financial momentum and mass which means we can return to international support for the needy when financial times improve.”

Populus received 13,391 responses from Saga members aged 50 and over to its online poll for Saga between 9th and 16th July 2010.

Ends

Further information:
Iain Macauley
im@pressrelations.co.uk
07788 978800
www.saga.co.uk

Emma Soames, editor-at-large, was editor of Saga Magazine from 2002-2008. Previously she edited the Telegraph Magazine for seven years and before that was editor of ES Magazine, Tatler and the Literary Review.