• 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 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.

Henry Smith MP has welcomed the Spending Review which provides billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus, delivers on the Government’s promises it has made to the British people and invests in the UK’s recovery.

On Wednesday (25th November), 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.

Henry 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 Crawley are protected and supported in the weeks and months ahead.

“At the same time, I was elected at last year’s General Election on a commitment to level up communities like ours, and it’s right that this 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 our local community.”

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 Government to deliver 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP appointments. There is also investment 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 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 are providing £375 million to deliver the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

4.         £400 million to recruit 6,000 new police officers – meaning Government is on track to meet its 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 in England and £800 million in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to build the infrastructure of everyday life.

9.         A new National Infrastructure Strategy, and a new UK infrastructure bank 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.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, 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.”