The criticism of the British International Investment agency in “Foreign aid investment agency spends £7mn on business class” (Report, February 22) is unfair. I was responsible for BII in the last Conservative government, and over the last 10 years BII has emerged as an internationally respected and highly effective development finance institution — recognised as the leader across the world.
As an engine for development and poverty alleviation, BII’s investments have secured employment for more than 1mn people (that’s potentially food on a million poor tables). In the last three years, BII’s investee companies have paid several billion in taxes to poor countries which in turn helps secure funding for education and health. BII has invested more than £750mn in the poorest countries — risk capital, not debt — and secured a return for UK taxpayers averaging 5 per cent over recent years.
Against this background, attacking them for business travel which similar companies and businesses insist on as a matter of course for their employees, so they arrive at distant destinations ready and able to work and deliver, is frankly too silly for words.
Andrew Mitchell MP
Former International Development Secretary, 2010-12, London SW1, UK
