The 42 inhabitants of a Pacific island have pocketed the equal of £426,000 every from Britain's overseas help funds in six years.
UK taxpayers have forked out greater than £17.9million since 2011 to cowl the prices of working a college, well being centre and ferry service for the residents of Pitcairn Island.
The handouts to the islanders, who're descendants of sailors who took half within the Mutiny on the Bounty, will attain nearly £three.5million this 12 months alone. That is the equal of £82,750 every – greater than 3 times the common British wage.
The 42 individuals residing on the island are descendants of sailors who took half within the Mutiny on the Bounty
Their story has been retold a lot of occasions on display screen, together with within the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando (pictured)
Residents of the island, midway between New Zealand and Peru within the South Pacific, all obtain both a authorities wage or pensions paid for by the UK, in addition to youngster profit. They pay no tax.
After becoming a member of the British Empire in 1838, the abroad territory supported itself via the sale of stamps and cash, however the UK stepped in when curiosity in gathering declined.
Round 98 per cent of Pitcairn's prices are lined by the abroad help division, Dfid, which supplies a health care provider, nurse, policeman and trainer.
Round 98 per cent of Pitcairn's prices are lined by the abroad help division, Dfid
A ferry, which prices £1.2million a 12 months to run, makes 4 annual journeys to New Zealand, with voyages lasting 12 days every method
A social employee has been paid for since a toddler intercourse scandal in 2004 when six males, together with the previous mayor, confronted costs together with the rape of youngsters as younger as seven.
A well-equipped well being centre has been constructed however islanders with severe medical issues are evacuated by sea and air to New Zealand at a value of round £30,000 a time. Therapy is paid for both by a authorities mortgage or grant.
A ferry, which prices £1.2million a 12 months to run, makes 4 annual journeys to New Zealand, with voyages lasting 12 days every method.
As properly funding a college and library, help money is used to subsidise a normal retailer and put up workplace. All homes on the island, which is lower than three miles huge, are related to the web.
Pitcairn is one in every of 14 abroad territories the place inhabitants have a proper to British citizenship and the Authorities is obliged to guard their wellbeing beneath worldwide legislation
On high of the cash from Dfid, the EU is contributing £2.1million from 2014-2020, together with paying for a brand new jetty and improved roads. An additional £2.1million was given within the previous six-year interval.
The UK funds round 10 per cent of the EU help funds.
Pitcairn is one in every of 14 abroad territories the place inhabitants have a proper to British citizenship and the Authorities is obliged to guard their wellbeing beneath worldwide legislation. Others, together with the Falklands and Gibraltar, are economically self-sufficient and levy taxes.
The Authorities is beneath renewed strain to overview its dedication to spend zero.7 per cent of nationwide earnings on overseas help, particularly when aged care within the UK is in disaster. Questionable tasks uncovered by the Every day Mail embody an all-female pop group dubbed Ethiopia's Spice Ladies that acquired £5.2million in overseas help. Worldwide Improvement Secretary Priti Patel introduced final week she was stopping the funding.
Pitcairn was colonised in 1790 by 9 mutinous sailors from the crew of the Bounty led by Fletcher Christian. They arrived from Tahiti together with 18 Polynesians.
Their story has been retold a lot of occasions on display screen, together with within the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard.
Alex Wild of the TaxPayers' Alliance, mentioned: 'Pitcairn is clearly a particular case. However as with each spending determination, it's essential that the cash despatched out is proportionate to want and spent effectively.'
A Dfid spokesman mentioned: 'The UK Authorities has worldwide authorized obligations to help the British individuals on Pitcairn Islands.'
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