- Spending Review commits to billions of pounds to help tackle coronavirus next year, including £18 billion to fund our programmes on community testing, test and trace, PPE and vaccines.
- Increased funding to deliver stronger public services – including in schools, hospitals and our police force.
- £100 billion capital spending including infrastructure to drive UK’s recovery and support jobs – levelling up across the United Kingdom as we build back better from coronavirus.
Antony Higginbotham MP has welcomed the Spending Review which provides billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus, delivers on the Conservative’s promises it has made to the British people and invests in the UK’s recovery.
On Wednesday, the Government set out an ambitious plan that focuses on levelling up across the country, investing in vital infrastructure that will ensure the UK builds back better from coronavirus.
As part of the Government’s commitments to fund the nation’s priorities, the Spending Review confirmed:
1. A further £55 million to help with our response to coronavirus – including £18 billion for mass testing, Test and Trace, PPE and vaccines, and £3 billion to support NHS recovery.
2. A funding boost for the NHS. Next year, the health budget will grow by £6.6 billion, allowing delivery of 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP appointments. Investing in new technologies, building 40 new hospitals, upgrading 70 more and replacing the vast majority of ageing diagnostic equipment.
3. More money for schools, meaning every pupil in the Burnley and Padiham will see a year-on-year funding increase of at least 2 per cent. This is on top of £375 million to deliver the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
4. £400 million to recruit 6,000 new police officers – meaning we are on track to meet our manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers by 2023.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Capital spending of £100 billion next year, meaning vital investment in roads, rail, hospitals, schools, broadband and housing.
8. A new Levelling Up Fund, worth £4 billion to build the infrastructure of everyday life.
9. A new National Infrastructure Strategy, and a new UK infrastructure bank - headquartered in the north of England - to work with the private sector to finance major new investment projects across the UK.
10. Support for every country across the United Kingdom, increasing Scottish Government funding by £2.4 billion, Welsh Government funding by £1.3 billion, and £900 million for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Commenting, Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham said:
We are starting to see an end in sight to the Coronavirus pandemic, with a vaccine closer than ever and mass testing rolling-out across Lancashire to support us in the meantime. But we know the economic situation is far less certain and needs a clear and coordinated response.
The Spending Review announced by the Chancellor tackles this unprecedented situation head on – prioritising the protection of lives and livelihoods in Burnley and Padiham in the weeks and months ahead, as we get through this period.
At the same time, I was elected at last year’s General Election on a commitment to level up areas like ours, and I am very pleased that this Conservative Government is now making good on that promise – by delivering a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure that will create jobs, grow the economy and increase pride in the place we call home.
The Levelling Up Fund is particularly welcome. This will ensure that the schemes we need locally to drive forward our economic growth and build back better from Covid-19, can access the necessary funding.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP 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.
