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| GORDON
BROWN PUTS THE SOCIAL AGENDA TOP OF BUDGET LIST |
17/04/04 |
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The
Chancellor has set out a wide range of social spending in this year's Budget,
with cash incentives for donations, volunteering, and improved funding for
health and education groups topping the list.
In a 56-minute speech to Parliament, Gordon Brown announced a major initiative
for helping payroll giving, plans for two new volunteering schemes, matched
funding for major charitable education projects abroad, and a rise in funding
to the NHS.
He told the House of Commons: "The purpose of this Budget is to lock
in, for Great Britain, an economic stability that can and will endure."
Brown's surprise announcement for the charity sector was the plan to provide
a cash incentive to encourage small and medium-sized firms to set up their
own payroll giving schemes - although there was no announcement repealing
the end of the government's 10% addition to all donations made in this way.
The full Budget also includes proposals to continue discussions with heritage
and conservation groups over the loophole in claiming gift aid on admissions.
He also revealed that the next Spending Review will contain plans for increasing
volunteering - especially through mentoring schemes and targeted at the
youth market.
He said: "Gift Aid is now worth £2.3bn a year to charities and voluntary
organisations who are at the heart of British civic life.
"With 2005 the British Year of the Volunteer, the Home Secretary and
I will consider, in the Spending Review, new resources for two volunteering
initiatives: first to encourage and extend mentoring; and second to encourage
national community service by young people."
He went on to announce matched funding for a year for the Commonwealth Education
Fund (which supports the objective that by 2015 every child everywhere has
primary education), and matched funding also for the Sports Relief charity
which tackles AIDS and poverty in Africa.
Brown commented: "2005 is the year where, as the Prime Minister has
said, the needs of Africa will be the focus of the UK's G7 Presidency as
a Presidency for development. I can tell the House that this government
will not freeze or cut the international development aid budget but increase
it."
Education at home also received a boost with a wide number of reforms to
modernise primary and secondary education, and plans to increase the overall
investment for English education to £6bn next year, and up to £8.1bn
by 2008.
The Chancellor also confirmed previous announcements that the NHS will receive
a 10% cash rise (7.2% in real terms) each year to 2008, as well as a ten-year
plan to fund a new National Clinical Research Network, which brings together
the private and public sectors with medical charities.
He said: "Our health budget is not just what we spend on the National
Health Service but on medical research that is bringing new treatments and
cures. I can confirm today that the combined budget for medical research
and development within the NHS will rise and, by 2008, approach £1.2bn
a year."
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "This is a win-win budget for
people and public services. Gordon Brown knows that by investing in our
public services he is investing in our future. He's had the courage and
foresight to plan further ahead than many politicians usually do."
More Budget reaction will appear here as we get it
ALSO SEE:
17/03/04 - view
story
LOSS OF PAYROLL GIVING BOOST TEMPERED BY NEW INCENTIVES
17/03/04 - view
story
NOTE OF CAUTION SOUNDED OVER NEW VOLUNTEERING SCHEMES
17/03/04 - view
story
CHANCELLOR BACKS UNCLAIMED ASSETS RELEASED FOR CHARITY
17/03/04 - view
story
ALL THE SECTOR REACTION IN FULL
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