McConnell attacks BBC programme

Frontline Scotland, 21 February Watch the programme

The first minister has attacked a BBC Scotland programme which questioned the administrative costs of providing Scottish Executive aid to Malawi.

The Frontline documentary revealed that nearly a third of the £2m spent on the programme had gone on running costs.

Mr McConnell said the Malawi Aid Game used the widest possible interpretation of administration.

BBC Scotland defended the programme, stating that it was legitimate to question executive spending.

Mr McConnell challenged BBC Scotland to provide a detailed breakdown of figures, which he said would enable the executive to address the claims.

However, he did not meet requests from two MSPs for a breakdown of the costs involved for administration.

I can give an absolute guarantee to this parliament that the misrepresentation of funding for organisations here in Scotland, as administration, was untrue Jack McConnell First Minister

Mr McConnell defended the parliament's involvement in international aid and said it "should not flinch" from a continued commitment - even though this was a reserved issue.

Last month's documentary said that 31% of spending was allocated to administration.

Mr McConnell said: "The scandalous misrepresentation of the facts in relation to the work of the international development fund, should make those responsible ashamed of their actions.

"I can give an absolute guarantee to this parliament that the misrepresentation of funding for organisations here in Scotland, as administration, was untrue.

'Numerical critique'

"The reality is that people here in Scotland are being supported in innovative projects that support people in Malawi to help them stand on their own two feet, to develop education and training services, to support their economy in a sustainable way and to improve the nature of governance in Malawi."

Mr McConnell was unable to provide independent MSP Dennis Canavan with a "numerical critique" of the figures produced in the documentary.

He said: "If it was possible, Mr Canavan, to understand misrepresentations it would be easier to respond to them.

"If there was a detailed breakdown of that fanciful claim, we would happily - and I'm sure all the organisations involved would happily - respond.

Calls have been made for continued aid for Malawi

Lib Dem Mike Pringle called for Mr McConnell to clarify the costs of administration.

The first minister said that his best estimate was that the programme took the widest possible definition of administration "way beyond what any reasonable person would expect".

A BBC spokesman said: "It is legitimate for BBC Scotland to examine how public money is being spent in Malawi.

"The programme looked at the operation of aid projects in Malawi, heard a variety of views about their cost-effectiveness and considered relevant financial details under Freedom of Information legislation."

The spokesman said Patricia Ferguson, the minister responsible for international development, was interviewed on the programme and the production team had requested an interview with the first minister but this was declined.

"Unfortunately, the Scottish Executive were unable to provide figures to show that the money dispensed so far has been spent as effectively as in other similar aid programmes," he added.