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£3bn spending brought forward in bid to keep economy moving
PUBLIC SPENDING THE GOVERNMENT will bring forward £3bn of planned spending on new schools, social housing, transport and flood defences in a bid to kickstart the economy.
The capital spending, which had been due to take place in 2010/2011, will now be carried out this year and next.
Chancellor Alistair Darling told MPs he was injecting more public money into the system now while the "economy was weaker."
He said: "It will put people to work, renovating infrastructure, modernising schools, and creating more fuel efficient homes. All vital for the future prosperity of the country and supporting jobs in key industries.
"This is only possible because I am prepared to take action now."
The announcement will mean 41 education authorities, including Doncaster Council, which had planned to renovate or rebuild primary schools in two years' time will now be given the cash by April next year.
Every council in England will also be asked to find school building and refurbishment spending which can be brought forward.
A total of 800m will be spent refurbishing and replacing school buildings and facilities while a further 442m is to be invested on improving colleges and universities – including scientific research facilities.
There will also be major transport spending brought forward with 700m invested in widening and repairing the motorway network and speeding up the introduction of 200 new train carriages.
The 3bn spending also includes 150m to create 2,000 new homes for social housing and a further 250m improving 25,000 existing homes.
Improvement work to council houses will also be accelerated with 175m spent on maintenance and repairs.
Other state spending, originally planned for 2010/11, which will now be carried out over the next 14 months will include 20m spent on flood defences.
However the Chancellor insisted: "Economic recovery must support our environmental objectives – not come at its expense."
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said that the announcement was "very good news" for the construction industry and small businesses across the country.
He said: "This decision means that building or refurbishment projects, particularly in primaries, already costed, designed and ready to go can now start as soon as possible."
WHERE THE CASH WILL GO
800 million on schools.
442 million on improving colleges and universities.
200 million on energy efficiency and other improvements to council homes.
175 million on major repairs to housing.
150 million on providing 2,000 more homes for social rent.
100 million to "key regeneration and housing infrastructure projects.
700 million on increasing motorway capacity 200 new carriages on to the railways
50 million on energy efficiency and heating upgrades for 60,000 homes.
100 million on upgrading up to 600 GP surgeries to training practices in areas lacking doctors.
20 million on flood defences, helping 27,000 homes.
5 million on improving the waterways network.
20 million on improving facilities of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and National Police Improvement Agency.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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