In his regular column for the Hereford Times, North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin says the Government is giving a pay rise to over one million nurses, doctors and others working in the NHS

THE spending review showed what an enormous impact Covid-19 has had on our country and what we have been doing to fight it.

We spent £18 billion to fund our programmes on community testing, test and trace, PPE and vaccines.

£3 billion to support NHS recovery from the impacts of coronavirus, allowing them to carry out up to one million checks, scans and operations, boost mental health services, invest in the workforce, and ease existing pressures.

Over £2 billion to keep our transport arteries open, with funding to subsidise rail and bus networks.

Over £3 billion to local authorities on the frontline of supporting vulnerable people through coronavirus. £250 million to help end rough sleeping and get people into long-term accommodation.

£2.6 billion to support the devolved administrations respond to coronavirus.

We are building on our plan for Jobs. Latest data shows the UK’s unemployment is lower than Italy, France, Spain, Canada and the United States.

With £3 billion earmarked for a new, three-year programme to help nearly one million people who have been unemployed for over a year find work.

We need to ensure fairness between the private and public sectors. In the six months to September, private sector wages fell by nearly one per cent – but public sector wages rose by nearly four per cent over the same period.

Unlike those in the private sector who have lost jobs, been furloughed, and seen wages and hours cut, the public sector has not.

We are providing a pay rise to over one million nurses, doctors and others working in the NHS.

Protecting jobs by pausing pay rises in the rest of the public sector.

Guaranteeing a pay rise of at least £250 for the 2.1 million public sector workers who earn below the median UK wage of £24,000, protecting the lowest paid.

This means that most public sectors will still receive an increase in their pay next year.

Our public sector workers have ensured that our essential public services continue to be delivered to those who need it, even during these challenging and uncertain times – and we pay tribute to them.

The UK has been publicly recognised by the IMF for its leadership in responding to Covid-19. The UK is the world’s largest donor to Covax’s Advance Market Commitment – the global initiative supporting developing country access to coronavirus vaccines. The UK is making £548 million available through the AMC.

The Prime Minister set out our Ten Point Plan for the UK to attain net zero emissions by 2050.

The Ten Point Plan will lay the foundations for a Green Industrial Revolution, supporting green jobs, and accelerating our path to net zero.