LUDLOW MP Philip Dunne has welcomed a significant boost in funding for public services, as Chancellor Sajid Javid laid out the new Spending Round for government departments for 2020/21.

Following years of reducing the government’s deficit over the past decade, for the first time since 2002 all departments will see an increase or maintained spending in real terms for the next year.,” claims the MP and former minister.

Compared to the previous year, departments will get a £13.8 billion real term increase in day-to-day spending to deliver on the public’s priorities.

This includes funding for 20,000 extra police officers, increasing per pupil funding for schools, and ensuring patients start seeing the £33.9bn cash increase for NHS front line services. The Chancellor also announced a real term increase of 2.6 per cent funding for the Armed Forces.

“Having successfully reduced the historic deficit inherited from the previous Labour government, my constituents now understandably want the government to focus spending on public priorities – and that is exactly what the Chancellor is delivering,” said Mr Dunne.

“More funding for the NHS, social care budgets, local authorities, education and the police shows the government is listening and reflecting the views that we often hear on the doorstep.

“Once we have delivered Brexit, we can get on and focus on these domestic priorities that matter to people here in South Shropshire and across the country.”

Some highlights from the Spending Review include:

• Next year every secondary school will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil, and by 2021-22 every primary school will get at least £4,000 per pupil.

• Investing £400 million in Further Education - the single biggest annual increase for the sector since 2010. Mr Dunne campaigned hard for this to help Ludlow College, which should receive a funding boost for the first time in some years.