Chancellor Delivers Spending Round 2019

The fastest planned increase in day-to-day departmental spending for 15 years was announced yesterday (4 September 2019) by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid – ‘turning the page’ on austerity.

The Spending Round set out departmental spending plans for 2020-2021 to deliver on the public’s priorities, including health, education, and security. Departmental day-to-day spending is paid for through resource budgets which covers things like schools and hospitals’ running costs, and public sector pay.

Promises to the NHS are being delivered

This Spending Round reaffirms the government’s commitment to the NHS, giving it a cash increase of £33.9 billion a year by 2023-24 compared to 2018-19 budgets.

A new £1,000 personal development budget over 3 years for every nurse, midwife and allied health professional, will also help to make the NHS secure for the future.

There is an extra £1.5 billion for social care

Councils will have access to a further £1.5 billion for social care – £1 billion through a new grant and £500 million through the adult social care precept. This will support local authorities to meet rising demand and continue to stabilise the social care system.

There is Brexit funding for after the UK has left the EU

£2 billion in 2020-21 will help the UK to establish a new relationship with the EU, and capitalise on the opportunities created by Brexit.