An MSP and former government minister has claimed some voluntary work can be a burden on developing countries.

An MSP and former government minister has claimed some voluntary work can be a burden on developing countries.

Labour's Malcolm Chisholm said aid workers flying from Scotland to Malawi spend the same amount of money on an air fare as some African teachers get paid in one year.

And he told the Scottish Parliament that short term aid added little value to links forged between the two countries.

The call follows a Holyrood investigation into improving international development.

Mr Chisholm, convener of the European and External Relations Committee, said: "While such altruism is broadly supported, some witnesses cautioned against short term volunteering which can be resource-intensive without adding a great deal of value.

"To put this is perspective, it was pointed out that the cost of one volunteer's air fare is the equivalent of a Malawian teacher's salary for the year.

"At the same time it was recognised that longer term volunteering schemes can be much more beneficial and the committee encourages the government to look at ways of promoting volunteer schemes including through pension support for volunteers."

Mr Chisholm welcomed the SNP government's commitment to carry on the previous Labour/Liberal Democrat work on international aid.

He said there was "substantial" support for the Malawi partnership, particularly among schools, and praised the government's pledge to earmark £3 million to the link.

He told the chamber that he had taken part in a Make Poverty History march which demonstrated the "empathy" Scots had with poorer countries.

Mr Chisholm said the committee's work should ensure "hardships and challenges" remain topical in the public mind.

"If not, there is always the danger that the Make Poverty History event will simply be remembered as a great day out," he added.

Linda Fabiani, the minister for external affairs, told MSPs: "Our international development policy is one of the plans which forms part of the wider international framework.

"It illustrates the Scottish Government's commitment to Scotland's place as a responsible nation in the world ready to play its part in tackling the global issue of poverty and facilitating economic growth for all."

The government has opened funding rounds to drum up money for work in Malawi and sub-Saharan Africa, she said.

Ms Fabiani also confirmed the government's intention to press ahead with a link project in the Indian subcontinent.

Labour's Pauline McNeill said credit was due to former First Minister Jack McConnell who "grasped the opportunity" to develop Scotland's first international policy.

"That strategy was rightly based on complimenting the UK Government work," she added.

"I believe that we wouldn't be the nation we are today if we did not have a comprehensive strategy on helping other poorer nations."

Mrs McNeill talked of the importance of being a Fairtrade nation, adding this was not just a "tick box" exercise.

"One of the advantages of being part of the United Kingdom is that we are part of a significant trading nation and influential in our trading block," she added.

"We must do more to ensure that Britain uses that power and influence for good."

Tory Ted Brocklebank said the Scottish Government had doubled international development funding to £9 million over the term of this Parliament is to be applauded.

But he added: "In international aid terms, what we're talking about is a mere pittance.

"We are never going to be big players in the amount of money we can devote to overseas aid.

"We must look, instead, to how we can get best value for that money to improve the lot of some of the world's most impoverished people.

"While we're limited in the amount of hard cash we can donate, we have much else to offer in skills development, in education, advising on good governance in manufacturing know how."

He said the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at Holyrood, which he chairs, also does excellent work.

Lib Dem Jim Hume called for further detail on how the minister will support volunteering schemes relating to international development.

He also asked if the government remained open to the possibility of establishing a full-time Scottish representative in Malawi as the report recommends.

Putting other countries on a fair footing when it comes to trade is hugely important and the "key" is ensuring sustainable economies, according to Mr Hume.

"This has probably never so true than in the present time with the current economic climate," he added.