Spending Review: The Key Points

[Jazzy]

The main announcements from the Chancellor George Osborne in his Spending Review for 2015/16 outlined to MPs in the Commons:

WELFARE:

:: Jobseekers face new requirements to get benefits. Non-English speaking claimants must learn the language while New Upfront Work Search system will require claimants to provide a CV, register for online job search and start looking for work before getting benefits.

:: Lone parents of three and four-year-olds to be required to attend job centres regularly and prepare for work.

:: Payment of winter fuel payments for people living abroad to be linked to a 'temperature test' from Autumn 2015 to ensure pensioners in hot countries do not get it.

:: Three new welfare reforms to include 'Welfare Cap' set in Budget statement annually from April 2015 for four years though state pension not included.

NHS:

:: NHS budget rises to £110bn for 2015/16. £4.7bn capital spending in NHS.

EDUCATION:

:: Education budget increased to £53bn for spend on schools only. Pupil Premium extended to more children. 180 more Free Schools funded.

TAX:

:: HMRC resource budget cut by 5% but extra resources provided to tackle tax evasion raising a predicted £1bn-plus.

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Sound good to you?

 

[Evil Eye]

Sounds reasonable.
Except for the cut in government workers. Yes, firing people you don't need seems reasonable, but it doesn't really work when you then have to pay them unemployment benefits. Or at least, that's what someone I know who rented out a room to an ex-government employee some years ago said. They did the math.

Only time will tell.