THE scale of the Pakistan floods is hard to overestimate. 14 million people need help and the UN has pronounced it the worst humanitarian disaster in its history.

Many are concerned, at a time of austerity at home, that the government has committed to raising our aid budget from £7.3 billion today to £10 billion by 2013. I understand these concerns but take a different view. I believe we have a duty to reach out to those whose lives are unimaginably harder than ours. But I do qualify this.

Firstly, I believe that aid should only be provided where it does not find its way into the pockets of corrupt officials. Far too often donations are converted into luxury cars or prestige projects rather than into schools, wells and medical treatment.

Secondly, aid should not be targeted towards countries that have the resources to do more themselves eg Russia (which has a space program) and China (which spent £20 billion on the Olympics).

Thirdly, we should make sure that aid promotes stable and peaceful government and preferably our own national interest. Pakistan is a case in point. Relatively unstable and nuclear tipped, she sits on the border of Afghanistan and is home to much Taliban activity. We have a strong strategic interest in ensuring that she is a stable democracy and much to lose if she becomes a failed state.

The government is aware of these points. Aid to Russia and China has stopped. We are targeting aid far more carefully and publishing details of aid donations online so that greater transparency can ensure less corruption and waste. If you would like to donate to the Pakistan emergency appeal please visit http://www.dec.org.uk">www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900.