-
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.
Swindon MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson have welcomed the Spending Review, which provides billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus, delivers on the Conservative Government’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:
-
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. The Government will invest in new technologies, building 40 new hospitals, upgrading 70 more and replacing the vast majority of ageing diagnostic equipment.
-
More money has been pledged for schools, meaning every pupil in the country will see a year-on-year funding increase of at least 2 per cent. The Government are also funding their commitment to rebuild 500 schools over the next decade and are providing £375 million to deliver the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
-
£400 million will be used to recruit 6,000 new police officers – meaning the Government is on track to meet their manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers by 2023.
-
More than £24 billion will be invested in defence – the biggest sustained increase in 30 years – allowing the Government to provide security not just for our country but around the world.
-
An increase in core spending power will be provided 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 has been pledged for next year, meaning there will be 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 has been announced to build the infrastructure of everyday life.
-
A new National Infrastructure Strategy, and a new UK infrastructure bank - headquartered in the north of England will work with the private sector to finance major new investment projects across the UK.
-
Support will be provided 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, South Swindon MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson said:
“While the health emergency facing our country is not yet over, the economic emergency has only just begun.
“The Chancellor’s Spending Review tackles this unprecedented situation head on – ensuring lives and livelihoods in Swindon are protected and supported in the weeks and months ahead.
“At the same time, we were elected at last year’s General Election on a commitment to level up communities like ours, and we are 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.”
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.”
