- Spending Review commits to billions of pounds to help tackle coronavirus next year, including £18 billion to fund programmes on community testing, test and trace, PPE and vaccines.
- Increased funding to deliver stronger public services – including in schools, hospitals and police force.
- £100 billion capital spending including infrastructure to drive UK’s recovery and support jobs –
- Andrew Rosindell: abandon the tiered system and get the economy moving again
Andrew Rosindell M.P. has cautiously welcomed the Spending Review which provides billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus, and invests in the U.K.’s recovery, but has urged the government to abandon the tiered system at the end of the lockdown on the 2nd of December.
At Prime Minister’s Questions before the Spending Review, the Romford M.P. pressed the government to agree to a “full public cost benefit analysis of the impact of [coronavirus restrictions] on the economy and public health before he introduces anything that will lead to economic harm that could end up being worse on people’s lives than the virus itself.”
On Wednesday, the Government set out an ambitious plan that focuses on levelling up across the country and investing in vital infrastructure that will ensure the Britain builds back better from coronavirus.
As part of the Government’s commitments to fund the nation’s priorities, the Spending Review confirmed:
- A further £55 million to help with the response to coronavirus – including £18 billion for mass testing, Test and Trace, PPE and vaccines, and £3 billion to support NHS recovery.
- A funding boost for the NHS. Next year, the health budget will grow by £6.6 billion, allowing the government to deliver 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP appointments. This includes investing in new technologies, building 40 new hospitals, upgrading 70 more and replacing the vast majority of ageing diagnostic equipment.
- More money for schools, meaning every pupil in the country will see a year-on-year funding increase of at least 2 per cent. The government is also funding its commitment to rebuild 500 schools over the next decade and is providing £375 million to deliver the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
- £400 million to recruit 6,000 new police officers – meaning the government is on track to meet our manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers by 2023.
- More than £24 billion investment in defence – the biggest sustained increase in 30 years – allowing us to provide security not just for our country but around the world.
- An increase in core spending power for local authorities by an estimated 4.5 per cent, along with over £3 billion of additional coronavirus support and an extra £254 million of funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
- Capital spending of £100 billion next year, meaning vital investment in roads, rail, hospitals, schools, broadband and housing.
Andrew Rosindell M.P. said:
“Although the pandemic is still a very real problem, the Chancellor’s spending review has clearly demonstrated that it is the economic emergency which is now the greatest threat to my constituency and every other constituency in the UK
Given the restrictions placed on people and businesses, I am glad to see the Chancellor using this Spending Review to support the economy and invest in our future with more money for public services and the levelling up agenda. I will be lobbying the government in the coming weeks to include a Gallows Corner re-development as part of its spending on projects in Essex.
However with borrowing at frighteningly high levels, unemployment ticking up and growth down by over 11%, it is deeply concerning that the government plans to go back into a tiered system, this time even stricter. It is time to abandon this approach and get the country moving once more.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak M.P. said:
“Today’s Spending Review delivers the priorities of the British people. Our health emergency is not yet over, and the economic emergency has only just begun; so our immediate priority is to protect people’s lives and livelihoods.
But today’s Spending Review also delivers stronger public services - paying for new hospitals, better schools and safer streets. And it delivers a once-in-a-generation transformation in our approach to infrastructure. Creating jobs, growing the economy, and increasing pride in the places people call home.”