MP says livelihoods will be protected in Chancellor’s Spending Review

THE MP for South Derbyshire has welcomed the Government’s priorities in this week’s Spending Review, which will provide billions of pounds of funding to help the country’s economic recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Heather Wheeler also said it was right that the overseas aid budget was reduced to 0.5 per cent from 0.7 per cent of gross national income, as she said it was more important aid was directed at vulnerable people here in the midst of a national emergency.

In his speech setting out the review, Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPS the NHS’S budget would increase by £6.6 billion, which would deliver 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP appointments. The Government will also be investing in 40 new hospitals and upgrading a further 70.

Schools will see a year-on-year increase in funding of at least 2 per cent which will benefit thousands of children in South Derbyshire, said Mrs Wheeler.

One of the Conservatives’ manifesto pledges was to recruit 20,000 more police officers by 2023 and to do this £400 million is being invested to recruit 6,000 new officers.

Mrs Wheeler added: “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 South Derbyshire are protected and supported in the weeks and months ahead.”