Julia Lopez MP has welcomed the Spending Review which provides billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus, delivers on promises made by the government and invests in the UK’s recovery.
Today, 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:
- 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.
- A funding boost for the NHS. Next year, the health budget will grow by £6.6 billion, allowing us to deliver 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP appointments. The Government is investing in new technologies, building 40 new hospitals, upgrading 70 more and replacing the vast majority of ageing diagnostic equipment.
- Reaffirming its commitment to increasing the schools budget by £7.1 billion by 2022-23, compared to 2019-20, including an uplift of £2.2 billion for next year.
- 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 we are on track to meet the pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers by 2023.
- More than £24 billion investment in defence – the biggest sustained increase in 30 years
- Increasing core spending power for local authorities by an estimated 4.5%, 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.
- A new Levelling Up Fund, worth £4 billion in England and £800 million in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to build the infrastructure of everyday life.
- 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.
- Support for every country across the UK, increasing Scottish Government funding by £2.4 billion, Welsh Government funding by £1.3 billion, and £900 million for the Northern Ireland Executive
The Chancellor sent a letter to all MPs with more detailed information on the announcements made in today’s Spending Review. We encourage all constituents who wish to read more in-depth information about today’s announcements to read the letter which is attached below.
