THE GOVERNMENT is “playing fast and loose” with the definition of aid spending, undermining British overseas efforts, a leading human rights group has warned.

A report by the International Development Committee published today found that cross-departmental pots of money risk becoming “a slush fund to pay for developing the UK’s diplomatic, trade or national security interests.”

It adds that the “lack of clarity” over the objectives of funds spent on foreign militaries “risks undermining faith in the UK aid brand.”

Reprieve’s head of policy Dan Dolan said the government was “increasingly using its development budget to support foreign security forces, some of whom are involved in appalling human rights abuses.”

He added that Reprieve had found that “in many cases, money that should be spent on alleviating poverty could in fact be helping oppressive regimes shut down dissent, and even enabling torture and the death penalty.”

He called for “a full account of these funds and the human rights risks identified for each project.”