The Swiss cabinet says it will not increase its contribution to development aid, as previously planned.

Increasing the contribution to 0.5 percent of national income by 2015, as required by Parliament, would require spending an additional CHF 1.7 billion francs.

However, the government plans to reduce its budget by CHF 1.5 billion from 2011-2013. Last year, Switzerland set aside 0.42 percent of its gross domestic product for aid.

Several non-governmental organizations have condemned the cabinet’s decision, describing it as ‘unacceptable’.