UK to cut off foreign aid to 16 nations including Vietnam

Under the proposed plans, nations including Angola, Kosovo, Vietnam and Cambodia will no longer receive aid from Britain.

Russia and China are also expected to be stripped of millions of pounds a year, as the coalition Government focuses more overseas aid on volatile states like Afghanistan and Somalia.

But the Government has been criticized for merely freezing funding for India – a country with its own space program – at £280m for four years.

Changes to the foreign aid program follow a nine-month review by International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell.

Despite widespread spending cuts, which have been felt by virtually all departments, Mr Mitchell has been allocated a rise in the aid budget – from £7bn to £11bn by 2015.

The review has resulted in a focussing of the new funds to fewer countries.

The details will be confirmed by the Government later.

Shadow international development secretary Harriet Harman told Sky News Labour did not oppose the aid changes.

She said: “I think that it’s right that they’re pressing on with the commitment we had to international aid and in particular, to increase the share of our national income that goes into aid.

“For all that, we have difficulties here and there’s inequality here… I think that if we can – and we can – make a difference by giving a small percentage of our income to save people from starving, to save children from dying of preventable diseases, then it’s right that we should do that.

“Broadly speaking, we back what the Government is doing.