Rachel Reeves to bang the drum for Britain in visit to New York City and Toronto this week.
Chancellor to share her vision for growth and champion UK sectoral strengths across financial services, clean energy and infrastructure to investors and CEOs.
Trip to build momentum for the International Investment Summit on 14 October.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has visited New York and Toronto this week with the message that Britain is open for business.
She met with CEOs and senior representatives from major players across the US and Canada’s foremost industries, highlighting that early steps taken by the government to fix the foundations and restore economic stability makes the UK an attractive destination for investment.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves:“I’ve wasted no time in my first month in office in taking the difficult decisions necessary to fix the foundations of our economy, so we can rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off.
“That means restoring economic stability so we can attract the investment needed to create good jobs, boost wages, and improve opportunity across Britain.
“There is no credible plan for growth without private sector investment. That’s why I’m breaking down barriers at home and banging the drum for Britain abroad as we gear up to host the International Investment Summit.”
While in New York, the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer met with Wall Street leaders and host a reception to celebrate women in finance.
The US is the UK’s biggest financial services trading partner, with UK exports to the US valued at £23.4bn annually. The sector is at the heart of the government’s core mission to deliver sustainable economic growth as a jewel in the crown of the UK economy and one of its success stories, contributing almost 10% of UK GVA and employing 1.2 million people.
In Toronto, the Chancellor met with names in the world of clean energy and infrastructure. The government’s mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower will bring opportunities for economic growth whilst helping the UK meet its target of clean power by 2030.
That mission has started in earnest with the creation of Great British Energy to partner with the private sector and secure the investment needed to accelerate the transition, the sweeping away of barriers to onshore wind farms, and a record £1.5 billion budget for this year’s renewable energy auction to get Britain building green.
During her time in the US and Canada, Reeves has pointed out that the government has moved quickly to create a stable environment where businesses have the confidence to invest in the UK.
This has included reform of a planning system that has long frustrated investment, ending the ban on on-shore wind and the establishment of a National Wealth Fund, backed by £7.3 billion to catalyse further private investment in our world-leading green and growth industries of the future.
The UK is already Europe’s leading hub for investment, with UK markets raising more capital than the next two highest European exchanges combined in 2023.
The Chancellor visited North America with a renewed purpose to build upon this, with it being announced yesterday that Britain is to play host to the International Investment Summit on 14 October.
In doing so, Ms Reeves is looking to deepen the strong economic relationship between Britain and the two North American countries.
The United States is the largest source of foreign investment in the UK and the UK is the third largest investment destination for Canadian companies, whom invested more than $73 billion of FDI stock in 2021.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with local leaders in Southport today to confirm a package of support for the local community, following the appalling killings and violent disorder that rocked the area earlier this week.
The package will equip local leaders and agencies so that the right support is in place for victims, ensure the needs of bereaved families are at the heart of the response, and drive longer term efforts to bring the community together.
During his visit to Southport the prime minister took part in a meeting with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy and other leaders drawn from local policing, faith groups, healthcare providers and voluntary and education sectors, where they discussed next steps and the importance of working together to help Southport recover from these horrific events. The Prime Minister also travelled to Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool to thank staff for their hard work and enduring professionalism.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As a nation, we stand with those who tragically have lost loved ones in the heinous attack in Southport, which ripped through the very fabric of this community and left us all in shock.
“It is truly inspiring to hear of all the ways in which people have come together in the face of such horrors to demonstrate true bravery, resilience and solidarity.
“I cannot begin to imagine the pain that people are going through right now, but I am determined to make sure that Southport and its leaders have all the support they need to preserve and nurture this strength of community spirit – not just in the immediate aftermath, but also in the years to come.”
Government and local partners are working together to coordinate a comprehensive multi-agency support offer for bereaved families and all those affected across Southport – this could include access to vital mental health and psychological services; effective communication with those affected; and a programme of engagement with the community on how to best recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the horrific events.
In order to support the long term recovery of the area, government will work with local partners on new ways to equip local leaders to help bolster community cohesion and build local resilience, including by setting up a programme of local community events and activities to help bring people together and create long lasting support networks drawing from local schools, businesses, faith groups, sports clubs and other key partners.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “The horrendous events of Tuesday have caused untold shock and horror across the whole country but has left Southport struggling to come to terms with such a tragedy on its doorstep.
“Once the glare of the national media has moved on, it leaves behind a community that needs to come together and rebuild. This is a tight knit area and we have already seen that inclusivity and community on full display in the town’s response to the mindless violence on Tuesday night.
I”t will not happen overnight, but we are determined to restore trust, build on that remarkable resilience – and, above all, ensure that Bebe, Elsie and Alice, and the victims and those traumatised, are never forgotten.
“On behalf of the Liverpool City Region, I’d like to thank the Prime Minister for the personal commitment he has given to supporting Southport through this extraordinarily difficult time.”
The package will also help support local leaders’ efforts to honour the memory of those tragically killed or injured, working with schools and others affected to commemorate them in line with the local community’s wishes.
It comes alongside extensive care delivered through the NHS for anyone affected by the terrible incidents, including specialist psychological and bereavement support services tailored to individuals’ needs and access to 24/7 crisis support.
Local hospitals and healthcare services delivering support to victims, bereaved families and other people affected are also being provided with advice in order to make sure staff are best equipped to give people the help and expert care they need.
Today’s measures follow wider efforts by government to prevent further violence and unrest on our streets through a new National Violent Disorder Programme. This will bring together expert policing capabilities from across the country, drive better intelligence sharing and deploy innovative technologies more effectively to stamp out criminal behaviour and bring those responsible for violence to justice.
Government will continue to work closely with community leaders over the weeks and months ahead to ensure people, businesses and the local economy all receive ongoing support in order to drive recovery and local growth, including sustaining Southport’s thriving tourism sector and cultural attractions.
Criminals intent on causing violence and unrest on our streets will be stopped in their tracks thanks to a new National Violent Disorder Programme, the Prime Minister has announced today.
At a meeting of police chiefs in Downing Street this afternoon, he offered his clear backing to forces up and down the country – pledging that the government will work in direct partnership with them to stamp out the violent disorder seen in recent weeks.
Following the meeting, he has announced the immediate creation of the new programme, which will bring together the best policing capabilities from across the country to share intelligence on the activity of violent groups so the authorities can swiftly intervene to arrest them.
Local insight and data will be used to gain a national understanding of where these criminals are operating, including the British Transport Police alerting where they see a spike in train ticket sales that could be linked to organised violent disorder.
It will also consider how we can deploy facial recognition technology, which is already used by some forces, more widely across the country. This will mean criminals can be targeted, found and brought to justice quickly.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this afternoon: “I’ve just held a meeting with senior police and law enforcement leaders where we’ve resolved to show who we are. A country that will not allow understandable fear to curdle into division and hate in our communities and that will not permit, under any circumstances a breakdown in law and order on our streets.
“Because let’s be very clear about this. It’s not protest. It’s not legitimate. It’s crime and violent disorder. An assault on the rule of law and the execution of justice.
“And so, on behalf of the British people who expect their values and their security to be upheld, we will put a stop to it.”
The programme will also support the swift deployment of surge teams to forces who need them, for example, when they’re faced with intelligence that suggests organised violence in a particular area.
The tragic events in Southport on Monday shone a light on the heroism of our emergency services and the work they do to keep the public safe. However, this was exploited by a criminal minority who directly targeted the police in a shocking display of aggression later that day which left fifty officers injured.
The Prime Minister was clear that criminals will never be allowed to hide behind the legitimate right to protest in order to wreak havoc and intimidation in our communities.
The plans form part of the government’s mission to take back our streets by halving serious violent crime and raising confidence in the police and criminal justice system.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Southport suffered a horrific attack that no community should ever have to face. But instead of being shown respect for their grief, the community had to endure violent disorder and thuggery.
“For the emergency services who responded with bravery to save lives on Monday to then face attack themselves on Tuesday is disgraceful and it only adds to the trauma when we should be thinking of the families of the little girls, and making sure they can get justice.
“Communities have a right to feel safe without deliberate organised violence or thuggery in our streets. Criminals need to face the full force of the law and today we made clear that the police have our strong support in keeping the streets safe. We will work with senior police officers across the country to make sure there is rapid intelligence sharing and swift action to stop violent disorder and make sure criminals pay the price.”
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC Chair said: “I would like to thank all the officers and first responders involved for their bravery and unity. At times like these it is encouraging to see the way forces come together to support each other, as well as the wider public.
“All of us in public leadership or in positions of influence have a responsibility to use our platform to help bring people together. It is more important than ever for us to call out disinformation, highlight harmful practices, report and condemn criminal and work together for a better society.”
“We welcome any support which helps us to strengthen our policing capability to deal with these types of incidents. We look forward to working with government and receiving more details on the creation of a National Violent Disorder Programme and further work on tools such as Live Facial Recognition.”
Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO at the College of Policing, said: “My thoughts remain firmly with the families of the little girls killed in Southport and the other people who are still recovering. I cannot begin to comprehend the extent of their grief and trauma at this time.
“This violence, from thugs who are hijacking the terrible grief felt across the country, is despicable, unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The same police officers who run towards harm to protect us are now being pelted with bricks, bins and fireworks. I’m grateful to the prime minister for extending his support to my colleagues as they deal with this criminality.
“Tonight, and over the weekend, police officers will be out in large numbers to protect us and our families. The College of Policing is making sure public order commanders have the support and guidance to utilise the full extent of the law and the tactics available to us.
“I say clearly to anyone who is seeking to bring further violence to our streets that your thuggish behaviour is not acceptable and not welcome in our communities. Police are already tracking down those involved in violence and anyone else thinking of joining in should know they will face the full force of the law.”
EARLIER this afternoon, Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a statement in Downing Street:
This week – we are a nation in shock.
A country coming to terms with an attack so inexplicably vile…
That fear is an understandable reaction.
Our first thoughts of course are with the families at the heart of this…
Their pain is unimaginable.
And so I call on everyone to give them and indeed the wider community at Southport…
The space to grieve.
And time for the authorities in Merseyside…
To do their job.
There will be a time for questions.
And we will make sure that the victims and families in Southport…
Are at the heart of that process…
That’s the very least that we owe these families.
But we also owe them justice.
So while there’s a prosecution that must not be prejudiced…
For them to receive the justice that they deserve…
The time for answering those questions is not now.
And I remind everyone that the price for a trial that is prejudiced…
Is ultimately paid by the victims and their families.
Who are deprived of the justice that they deserve.
Let me turn now to the actions of a tiny, mindless minority in our society.
Because in the aftermath of this attack
The community of Southport had to suffer twice.
A gang of thugs, got on trains and busses…
Went to a community that is not their own…
A community grieving the most horrific tragedy…
And then proceeded to throw bricks at police officers.
Police officers who just 24 hours earlier…
Had been having to deal with an attack on children in their community.
Their community.
And make no mistake…
Whether it’s in Southport, London – or Hartlepool…
These people are showing our country exactly who they are.
Mosques targeted because they are Mosques.
Flares thrown at the statue of Winston Churchill.
A Nazi salute at the Cenotaph.
And so I’ve just held a meeting with senior police and law enforcement leaders…
Where we’ve resolved to show who we are.
A country – that will not allow understandable fear…
To curdle into division and hate in our communities.
And that will not permit, under any circumstances…
A breakdown in law and order on our streets.
Because let’s be very clear about this.
It’s not protest.
It’s not legitimate.
It’s crime…
Violent disorder.
An assault on the rule of law and the execution of justice.
And so on behalf of the British people…
Who expect their values and their security to be upheld…
We will put a stop to it.
I want to thank all of the police officers, across the country…
Who have already, as they so often do…
Stood up to intimidation and violence in the past few days…
And indeed, throughout the summer.
And let me be clear – the meeting this afternoon was not about pointing the finger of blame…
That is not how this Government of Service conducts its business…
Because it doesn’t work.
Rather – this was a meeting to pull together our response…
A response both to the immediate challenge…
Which is clearly driven by far-right hatred.
But also – all violent disorder that flares up.
Whatever the apparent cause or motivation – we make no distinction…
Crime is crime.
And so – to that end…
I can announce today, that following this meeting…
we will establish a national capability, across police forces…
To tackle violent disorder.
These thugs are mobile…
They move from community to community…
And we must have a policing response that can do the same.
Shared intelligence…
Wider deployment of facial recognition technology…
And preventive action – criminal behaviour orders…
To restrict their movements…
Before they can even board a train…
In just the same way we do with football hooligans.
And let me also say to large social media companies and those who run them…
Violent disorder clearly whipped up online…
That is also a crime.
It’s happening on your premises.
And the law must be upheld everywhere.
That is the single most important duty of Government…
As part of the UK Government’s review of the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, has today [01 August 2024] extended the current backdating period deadline by two years from 31 August 2024 to 31 August 2026.
The scheme was opened in August 2021 to provide acknowledgement payments to individuals who were permanently injured in Troubles-related incidents.
Following concerns raised by a number of individuals and organisations, including groups who represent victims and survivors of the Troubles, that some potential applicants could lose out on backdated payments, the Secretary of State has moved to ensure all potential beneficiaries of the scheme have sufficient time to consider making an application.
This extension will allow anyone deemed eligible in the five-year lifespan of the scheme to avail of a payment backdated to 2014.
Explaining his decision to extend the backdating period of the scheme, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said: “Approximately 40,000 people were injured during the Troubles, and it is essential that we recognise the great hurt that was caused during this dark period in our history.
“The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, overseen by the Victims Payments Board, has made progress in making acknowledgement payments to permanently injured victims of the Troubles.
“But with the deadline approaching, there was a risk that some potential applicants would miss out on backdated payments. I have therefore decided to extend the period for which backdated payments are available by a further two years.
“I hope this will assist both those who have suffered and are applying to the scheme, and those who are supporting applicants.”
UK government will recruit more than 1,000 newly qualified GPs thanks to action to remove red tape
Government acts to fix front door to NHS and deliver more appointments
Slashing burdensome red tape to boost capacity in surgeries and hire over 1000 more newly-qualified doctors
Government listening to sector to help end scandal of patients struggling to see a doctor
More than 1,000 newly qualified GPs will be recruited thanks to government action to remove red tape currently preventing surgeries from hiring doctors.
Bringing back the family doctor is central to the Government’s plan to rebuild the health service, and the changes being made to cut through the current rules will help more patients get access to GPs, and ensure more GPs are able to find roles, so that people in communities across England will receive the timely care they deserve this year.
Currently, under a scheme known as the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, primary care networks (PCNs) can claim reimbursement for the salaries (and some on costs) of 17 new roles within the multidisciplinary team – meaning more specialists are available to treat patients.
They are selected to meet the needs of the local population, but are currently prevented from using this to recruit additional GPs. The changes announced today means that newly qualified GPs can quickly be recruited into the NHS through this scheme in 2024-2025.
It’s thought hundreds of newly qualified GPs could be without a job this summer in England. But thanks to this intervention, they will be able to be hired by the end of the year.
The Government is listening to GPs, and this has been hard fought by the British Medical Association, Royal College of General Practitioners, and many other groups who petitioned for it, receiving over 11,000 signatures.
It comes as the Government accepts recommendations of the Pay Review Bodies in full, increasing GPs’ pay by 6% – their first meaningful pay rise in years.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “It is absurd that patients can’t book appointments while GPs can’t find work.This government is taking immediate action to put GPs to work, so patients can get the care they need.
“This is a first step, as we begin the long-term work of shifting the focus of healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to fix the front door to the NHS.
“I want to work with GPs to rebuild our NHS, so it is there for all of us when we need it.”
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said: “With hard-working GP teams delivering millions more appointments a month compared to before the pandemic, it is vital they are given the resources to manage this increase in demand.
“Adding General Practitioners to the scheme is something that the profession has been calling for in recent months to make it easier for practices to hire more staff – so I welcome this measure which is an important first step to increasing GP employment in the long-term.
“We will continue to work with GPs, the BMA and the Government to avert any potential action but in the meantime the NHS has a duty to plan for any possible disruption to ensure services continue to be provided for patients – so the public should continue to come forward for care in the normal way if collective action does go ahead.”
This is an emergency measure for 2024-2025 to ensure patients are able to access GPs and GPs are able to find roles, while the Government works with the profession to identify longer term solutions to GP unemployment and general practice sustainability as part of the next fiscal event.
The Government will ensure the NHS has the funding it needs to deliver this, paid for by £82 million from the existing department budget.
In expanding general practice capacity, the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme improves access for patients, supports the delivery of new services and widens the range of offers available in primary care.
The UK Government has set out the next steps for tax measures from the manifesto on which the Government was elected, including policies to close tax loopholes and tackling tax avoidance.
This is to provide taxpayers with certainty ahead of their final confirmation at the Budget on 30 October 2024.
Further details on all policies including costings will be published at the Budget, and will be certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Ending tax breaks for private schools and raising revenue to fund state education priorities
The Government is publishing a technical note setting out its plan to introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided by UK private schools from 1 January 2025.
o 20% VAT will also apply to pre-payments of fees for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025 made on or after 29 July 2024.
Over 94% of school children in the UK attend state schools and ending the tax breaks on VAT and business rates for private schools will secure additional funding to help recruit 6,500 new teachers and roll out breakfast clubs to all primary schools.
These changes will not impact pupils with the most acute special educational needs, where their needs can only be met in private schools. Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities (LAs) because their needs can only be met in private school (e.g. in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT so it does not apply to those fees.
This change will only apply to tuition fees and boarding fees charged by private schools. The VAT treatment of other services or goods provided by private schools – such as nursery care, wrap-around childcare, school meals and holiday clubs, and part time classes operated by third parties within schools – such as music and drama clubs and Sunday schools – will not change. The VAT treatment of state boarding fees will also continue to be exempt from VAT.
The government will also end business rates relief for private schools. This change means private schools in England will no longer be eligible for charitable rates relief and will pay their full business rates liability. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage.
The VAT changes will be legislated for in the Finance Bill introduced following the Budget. The business rates changes will be legislated for through a Local Government Finance Bill led by the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG).
Non-Doms: Removing domicile status from the tax system and implementing a new internationally competitive residence-based regime
The Government is committed to addressing unfairness in the tax system, so that everyone who makes their home in the UK pays their taxes here.
That is why the Government will remove the outdated concept of domicile status from the tax system and replace it with a new internationally competitive residence-based regime, focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK.
A policy note has been published to set out the government’s plan to end the use of offshore trusts to avoid inheritance tax and scrapping the 50% tax reduction on foreign income in the first year of the new regime.
From April 2025, anyone who has been tax resident in the UK for more than four years will pay UK tax on their foreign income and gains (FIG), as is the case for other UK residents. This is a simpler and clearer test, with less scope for ambiguity than the current regime.
New arrivals to the UK will benefit from 100% UK tax relief on their FIG for their first four years of tax residence, provided they have been non-resident for the last 10 years. This is more attractive than the current approach, as they will be able to bring FIG into the UK without attracting an additional tax charge, encouraging them to spend and invest these funds in the UK.
To support transition and provide time for adjustment, a Temporary Repatriation Facility (TRF) will be available for individuals to bring pre-6 April 2025 FIG held offshore into the UK at a reduced rate of tax, to encourage these funds to be spent and invested in the UK.
Behavioural impacts and costings will be published at the Budget.
Energy Profits Levy
The Government is publishing a policy document that confirms its intention to increase the rate of the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) by three percentage points to 38% from 1 November 2024.
The levy will also be extended from 31 March 2029 to 31 March 2030.
The Government will remove unjustifiably generous investment allowances from the EPL, starting by abolishing the levy’s core investment allowance from 1 November. The decarbonisation allowance will be retained.
The Government will reduce the generosity of capital allowances (including First Year Allowances) when calculating EPL profits – providing further details on these changes at Budget.
The Energy Security Investment Mechanism will remain, helping to provide operators and their investors with confidence the levy will no longer apply if prices fall to, or below, historically normal levels for a sustained period.
Further details on the Government’s approach to all allowances in the EPL, and costings, will be set out at the Budget.
The Government recognises the importance of providing the oil and gas industry with long-term certainty on taxation after a period of change. The government will work with the industry and others to develop and implement a successor regime for responding to price shocks after the EPL ceases.
The UK Government is also:
Publishing a call for evidence confirming its intention to take action against the carried interest loophole, and to form the basis for detailed engagement with expert stakeholders.
o Carried interest is a form of performance-related reward received by fund managers, primarily within the private equity industry.
o Reforms will ensure fairness, whilst also recognising the vital role that our world-leading asset management industry plays in channelling investment across the UK.
Tackling the tax gap. Reforming the tax system by making policy changes to simplify tax, close loopholes and reduce non-compliance, designing out non-compliance before it happens. At the Budget, the government will provide an update on the implementation and development of measures that form its plan to close the tax gap.
The government will invest in HMRC’s compliance work, hiring around 5,000 additional staff to recover more tax revenues. HMRC has already started the process of recruiting additional staff into compliance roles.
The government will also invest in HMRC’s technology infrastructure, helping to make HMRC more efficient and improve taxpayers’ experience of interacting with HMRC.
Chancellor reveals £22 billion of unfunded pressures inherited from the previous Government
Findings of a Treasury spending audit reveal £22 billion of unfunded pledges inherited from the previous Government this year.
Chancellor takes “difficult decisions” to find £5.5 billion of savings this year and £8.1 billion next year.
A set of non-negotiable fiscal rules will be confirmed at Budget on 30th October, alongside further difficult decisions on tax and spending.
Finalised departmental budgets for this financial year and the next will be confirmed in October and a multi-year Spending Review will conclude in Spring 2025 to embed mission-led government and transform public services.
Addressing the House of Commons today (Monday 29th July) the Chancellor pledged to ‘restore economic stability’ after revealing £22 billion of unfunded pressures inherited from the previous Government.
Findings from a Treasury audit commissioned by the Chancellor expose billions of pounds of unfunded commitments from the previous Government, including the Rwanda scheme, the Advanced British Standard and the New Hospital Programme.
The previous Government also failed to increase Departmental budgets to cover public sector pay settlements, which were £11-12 billion higher than accounted for at the last Spending review. All of which were made on top of pressures resulting from higher inflation, increased asylum costs and funding for Ukraine.
Taking immediate action, the Chancellor announced £5.5 billion of savings this year and £8.1 billion next year to tackle the overspend. She also commits to set out full fiscal plans, alongside a Spending Review, at the Budget on 30th October.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “This is not the statement I wanted to give today, and these are not the decisions I wanted to make. But they are the right decisions in difficult circumstances.”
The difficult decisions taken by the Chancellor have secured savings including over £1 billion next year, rising to over £4 billion by 29/30 by not proceeding with the previous government’s unfunded adult social care charging reforms.
Around £1.5 billion will be saved per year by targeting Winter Fuel Payments meaning households with someone aged over State Pension age receiving Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and income-related Employment and Support Allowance will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments. This will better target support for heating costs at those who need it.
Immediate savings include £800 million this year and £1.4 billion next year from scrapping the Rwanda migration partnership and scrapping retrospection of the Illegal Migration Act, £70 million this year by cancelling the Investment Opportunity Fund and other small projects, £185 million next year from cancelling the Advanced British Standard and £785 million next year from stopping unaffordable road and railway schemes.
The Chancellor also announced a review of the underdelivering New Hospital Programme.
To provide certainty for public sector workers and help put an end to devastating strikes costing billions of pounds, the Chancellor accepted the independent Pay Review Body recommendations and confirm pay uplifts averaging 5.5% for public sector workers.
To ensure that no Government is faced with a spending cliff-edge like this again the Chancellor set out plans to ensure Spending Reviews are set every two years to cover a three-year period, with a one year overlap with the previous Spending Review, helping build in greater certainty and stability over public finances.
Transparency over in year spending pressures will also be enhanced, with more information being provided to the OBR. In the House the Chancellor also re-committed to a single major fiscal event a year.
The Chancellor also outlined long-term plans to tackle unacceptably high levels of welfare fraud and error as well as addressing falling public sector productivity and a new Office of Value for Money.
During her statement the Chancellor outlined next steps in delivering tax commitments from the manifesto, to provide taxpayers with certainty ahead of their final confirmation at the Budget.
This includes ending the VAT tax breaks for private schools from 1 January 2025 to help recruit 6,500 new teachers, as well as replacing the outdated non-domicile regime with a new internationally competitive residence-based regime.
As also set out in the manifesto, the Chancellor confirmed plans for the Energy Profits Levy to be extended one year to 31 March 2030, have its investment allowances tightened and to increase the rate of the levy by three percentage points to 38% from 1 November 2024.
A call for evidence confirming the government’s intention to take action on the carried interest loophole has also been published, as well as a commitment to update on policies at the Budget to help close the tax gap further.
Further details for all tax policies, including costings certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility, will be published at the Budget.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves statement to the House of Commons on 29/07/2024:
Mr Speaker, on my first day as Chancellor of the Exchequer, I asked Treasury officials to assess the state of public spending.
That work is now complete, and today I am presenting it to this House.
In this statement, I will do three things.
First, I will expose the scale – and the seriousness – of what has been uncovered.
Second, I will lay out the immediate action we are taking to deal with the inheritance.
And third, I will set out our longer-term plans to fix the foundations of our economy.
Let me take each of these in turn.
First, the inheritance.
Before the election, I said that we would face the worst inheritance since the Second World War.
Taxes at a seventy year high.
Debt through the roof.
An economy only just coming out of recession.
Mr Speaker, I knew all those things.
I was honest about them during the campaign.
And the difficult choices it meant.
The British people knew them too.
That is why they voted for change.
But upon my arrival at the Treasury three weeks ago, it became clear that there were things I did not know.
[Redacted political content]
That is why we are today publishing a detailed audit of the real spending situation, a copy of which will be laid in the House of Commons Library.
I want to take the opportunity to thank Treasury officials for all their work in producing this document.
Let me explain what it has uncovered.
Mr Speaker, the government published its plans for day to day departmental spending at the Spring Budget in March.
But when I arrived at the Treasury…
… on the very first day…
… I was alerted by officials that this was not how much the previous government expected to spend this year.
Not even close.
In fact, the total pressure on these budgets across a range of areas was an additional £35bn.
Once you account for the slippage in budgets you usually see over a year…
… and the reserve of £9bn to deal with genuinely unexpected events…
… it means, Mr Speaker, that I have inherited a projected overspend of £22bn.
A £22bn hole in the public finances now – not in the future.
[Redacted political content]
If left unaddressed it would have meant a 25% increase in the government’s financing needs this year, pushing gilt issuance further into record highs outside of the pandemic.
So I will today set out the urgent work I have already done to reduce that pressure on the public finances by £5.5bn this year and over £8bn next year.
And let me be clear: I am not talking about bills for future years they signed up to but did not include, like the compensation for infected blood.
I am not talking about the state of public services in the future, like the crisis in our prisons, which they have left for us to fix.
I am talking about the money they were spending this year and had no ability to pay for…
[Redacted political content]
Resulting in the position that we have now inherited:
The reserve, spent three times over only three months into the financial year.
[Redacted political content]
Mr Speaker, the scale of this overspend is not sustainable.
Not to act is simply not an option.
We have already seen official ONS figures this month showing borrowing is higher this year than the OBR expected. [Redacted political content]
[Redacted political content]
There are very clear instances of specific budgets that were overspent…
… and unfunded promises that were made…
…but that, crucially, the OBR were not aware of for their March forecast.
I will now take each of those instances in turn.
First, the asylum system.
The forecast for the number of asylum seekers has risen dramatically since the last Spending Review, and costs for asylum support have risen sevenfold in the last three years.
But instead of reflecting those costs in the Home Office budget for this year, the previous government covered up the true extent of the crisis and its spending implications.
The document I am publishing today reveals a projected overspend on the asylum system, including their failed Rwanda plan, for this year alone of more than £6.4bn.
That was unfunded and undisclosed.
Next, in the wake of the pandemic, demand for rail services fell.
But instead of developing a proper plan to adjust for this new reality, the government handed out cash to rail companies to make up for passenger shortfalls, but failed to budget for this adequately.
Because of that, and because of industrial action, there is now an overspend of £2.9bn in the transport budget.
That was unfunded and undisclosed.
Mr Speaker, since 2022, the government – with the support of this whole House – has rightly provided military assistance to Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion.
The spending audit has found that there was not enough money set aside in the reserve to fund all these costs.
We will continue to honour these commitments in full.
[Redacted political content]
On top of these new pressures, since 2021, inflation was above the Bank of England’s target for 33 months in a row – hitting 11% at its peak.
But the government has not held a Spending Review since 2021.
That means they never fully reflected the impact of inflation in departmental budgets.
This had a direct impact on budgets for public sector pay.
When the last Spending Review was conducted, it was assumed that pay awards would be 2% this year.
Ordinarily, the government is expected to give evidence to the Pay Review Bodies on affordability.
But extraordinarily, this year, the previous government provided no guidance on what could or could not be afforded to the Pay Review Bodies.
This is almost unheard of.
But that is exactly what they did.
[Redacted political content]
I will not repeat their mistakes.
Where the previous government provided no transparency to the public, and no certainty for public services…
… we will be open about the decisions which are needed…
… and the steps we are taking.
That begins with accepting in full the recommendations of the independent Pay Review Bodies, and the details of these awards are being published today.
That is the right decision for the people who work in and most importantly the people who use our public services…
… giving hardworking staff the pay rise they deserve…
… while ensuring we can recruit and retain the people we need.
It should not have taken this long to come to these decisions.
And I do not want us to be in this position again.
So, I will consider options to reform the timetable for responding to the Pay Review Bodies in the future.
This decision is in the best interests of our economy too.
The last government presided over the worst set of strikes in a generation.
This caused chaos and misery for the British public.
And it wreaked havoc on the public finances.
Industrial action in the NHS alone cost the taxpayer £1.7bn last year.
That is why I am pleased to announce today that the Government and the BMA have agreed an offer to the Junior Doctors, on which my RHF the Health Secretary will set out further details.
And let me pay tribute today to my RHF, whose leadership on this issue has paved the way to ending a dispute which has caused waiting lists to spiral, operations to be delayed and agony for patients to be prolonged.
Today marks the start of a new relationship between the government and staff working in our National Health Service – and the whole country will welcome that.
Mr Speaker, where the previous government ducked the difficult decisions, I am taking action.
Because knowing what they did about the state of the public finances, they continued to make unfunded commitment after commitment that they knew they could not afford.
[Reacted political content]
Leaving us with an overspend of £22bn this year.
Where they presided over recklessness, I will bring responsibility.
I will take immediate action.
Let me set this out in detail.
First, pay.
I have today set out our decision to meet the recommendation of the Pay Review Bodies.
Because the previous government failed to prepare for these recommendations in departmental budgets, they come at an additional cost of £9bn this year.
So, the first difficult choice I am making is to ask all departments to find savings to absorb as much of this as possible…
… totalling at least £3bn.
To support departments as they do this, I will work with them to find savings ahead of the Autumn budget…
… including through measures to stop all non-essential spending, such as on consultancy and government communications.
And I am asking departments to find 2% savings in their back-office costs.
I will now deal with a series of commitments made by the previous government which they did not fund.
Because if we cannot afford it, we cannot do it.
First, [Redacted political content] the former Prime Minister announced the introduction of a new qualification: the “Advanced British Standard”.
That is a commitment costing nearly £200m next year, rising to billions in future years.
Mr Speaker, this was supposed to be the Prime Minister’s legacy.
But it turns out, he didn’t put aside a single penny to pay for it.
So we will not go ahead with that policy.
Because if we cannot afford it, we cannot do it.
Next, the Illegal Migration Act, passed by the previous government, made it impossible to process asylum applications or remove people who have no right to be here.
[Redacted political content]
We need a properly controlled and managed asylum system where rules are properly enforced so that those with no right to be here are swiftly removed.
So we have scrapped their failed Rwanda scheme, which placed huge pressure on the Home Office budget.
To bring down these costs as soon as possible, my RHF the Home Secretary has already laid legislation to remove the retrospective element of the Illegal Migration Act…
… which will significantly reduce the use of hotel accommodation.
These measures will save nearly £800m this year and avoid costs spiralling even further next year.
This was a bad use of taxpayers’ money and we will not do it.
Mr Speaker, the previous government claimed it was “levelling up” our country.
[Redacted political content]
At Autumn Statement last year, the former Chancellor announced nearly £150m for an “Investment Opportunity Fund”.
But not a single project has been supported from the Fund.
So, following discussions with my RHF the Deputy Prime Minister, I am cancelling it today.
The previous government also made a series of commitments on transport.
Promises that people expected to be delivered.
[Redacted political content]
We have seen from the National Audit Office the chaos that the previous government presided over.
Projects over budget and delayed again and again.
The spending audit has revealed nearly £800m of unfunded transport projects that have been committed next year.
So my RHF the Transport Secretary will undertake a thorough review of all these commitments.
As part of that work, she has agreed not to move forwards with projects that the previous government refused to publicly cancel, despite knowing full well they were unaffordable.
That includes proposed work on the A303 and the A27…
… and my RHF will also cancel projects in the “Restoring our Railways” programme which have not yet commenced.
If we cannot afford it, we cannot do it.
Mr Speaker, the previous government had plans for a retail sale of Natwest shares.
We intend to fully exit our shareholding in NatWest by 2025-26.
But having considered advice I have concluded that a retail share sale offer would involve significant incentives that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds.
It would therefore not represent value for money, and it will not go ahead.
This is a bad use of taxpayers’ money and we will not do it.
Next, let me address the unfunded pressures in our NHS and our social care sector.
In October 2020, the government announced that 40 new hospitals would be built by 2030.
Since then, only 6 have started their main construction activity.
And less than half of the 40 hospitals have even started construction.
The National Audit were clear that delivery was wildly off track.
But since coming into office, it has become clear that the previous government continued to maintain its commitment to 40 hospitals…
… without anywhere close to the funding required to deliver them.
[Redacted political content]
We need to be straight with the British people about what is deliverable and what is affordable.
So we will conduct a complete reset of the New Hospitals Programme, with a thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery.
Mr Speaker, adult social care was also neglected by the previous government.
The sector needs reform to improve care and to support staff.
In the previous parliament, the government made costly commitments to introduce adult social care charging reforms.
But then, they pushed them back repeatedly…
… including just two years ago…
… because they knew that local authorities were not ready…
… and that their promises were not funded.
So it will not be possible to take forward these charging reforms. This will save over £1bn by the end of next year.
Mr Speaker, the previous government made commitment after commitment without knowing where the money was going to come from.
They did this repeatedly, knowingly and deliberately.
[Redacted political content]
And I am taking the first steps to clean up what they have left behind.
But the scale of the inheritance we have been left, means the decisions we have so far announced will not be enough. This level of overspend is not sustainable.
It therefore falls to us to take further difficult decisions on spending that generate in year savings.
Mr Speaker, the last Labour government lifted over one million pensioners out of poverty.
And I repeat today the commitment we gave that we will protect the Triple Lock.
But the scale of the situation we are dealing with means incredibly tough choices.
So that is why today, I am making the difficult decision that those not in receipt of Pension Credit will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment from this year onwards.
The Government will continue to provide Winter Fuel Payments worth £200 to households receiving Pension Credit…
… or £300 for households in receipt of Pension Credit with someone aged over 80.
Let me be clear: this is not a decision I wanted to make.
Nor is it one that I expected to make.
But it is a necessary and urgent decision I must make – It is the responsible thing to do to fix the foundations of our economy and bring back economic stability.
Alongside this change, I will work with my Right Honourable Friend the Work and Pensions Secretary to maximise the take up of Pension Credit by…
… bringing forward the adminstration of Housing Benefit and Pension Credit, pushed back by the previous government…
… and working with older peoples’ charities and local authorities to raise awareness of Pension Credit, and help identify households not claiming it.
Mr Speaker, this is the beginning of a process, not the end.
I am announcing today that I will hold a Budget on October 30th alongside a full economic and fiscal forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
I have to tell the House that Budget will involve taking difficult decisions to meet our fiscal rules across spending, welfare and tax. [Redacted political content]
It will be a Budget to fix the foundations of our economy.
And it will be a Budget built on the principles that this new government was elected on.
First, we will treat taxpayers’ money with respect by ensuring that every pound spent is well spent…
… and we will interrogate every line of public spending to ensure it represents value for money.
Second, I can repeat – from the despatch box – our manifesto commitment that we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT.
And today my Right Honourable Friend the Exchequer Secretary is publishing further detail on our manifesto commitments to close tax loopholes and clamp down on tax avoidance…
… to ensure we bring that money in as quickly as possible.
My third principle is that we will meet our fiscal rules.
We will move the current budget into balance…
… and we will get debt falling as a share of the economy by the end of the forecast.
These are the principles that will guide me at the Budget.
But let me be honest: challenging trade-offs will still remain.
So today I am also launching a multi-year Spending Review.
The review will set departmental budgets for at least three years, providing the long-term certainty that has been lacking for too long.
As part of that process, final budgets for this year and budgets for next year – 2025-26 – will be set alongside the Budget on 30th October.
I will look closely at our welfare system…
… because if you can work, you should work.
That is the principle of this government.
Yet under the previous government, welfare spending ballooned while inactivity has risen sharply in recent years.
So we will ensure the welfare system is focused on supporting people into employment…
… and we will assess the unacceptable levels of fraud and error in our welfare system, and take forward action to bring that down.
Mr Speaker, to fix the foundations of our economy, we must ensure that never again can a government keep from the public the true state of our public finances.
The fiscal framework which I have inherited had several flaws.
It allowed the government to run down the clock on departmental budgets…
… avoid difficult decisions
[Redacted political content]
So I am announcing the most significant set of changes to our framework since the inception of the Office for Budget Responsibility, which will come into effect this Autumn.
First, we have introduced legislation to ensure every significant and permanent tax or spending announcement must be accompanied by an OBR forecast through our “fiscal lock”, so we can never again see a repeat of the mini-budget.
Second, we will require the Treasury to share with the Office for Budget Responsibility its assessment of immediate public spending pressures, and enshrine that rule in the Charter for Budget Responsibility…
… so no government can ever again cover up the true state of the public finances.
And finally, we will ensure that never again do public service budgets get set at only a few months’ notice.
Instead, Spending Reviews will take place every two years, with a minimum planning horizon of three years, to avoid uncertainty for departments and to bring stability to the public finances.
I have already spoken to the Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility to brief him on the findings of our audit and our reforms.
He has welcomed those, and will initiate his own review into the information provided to the OBR by the Treasury ahead of the Spring Budget. The Treasury stands ready to support this work.
Mr Speaker, by launching the Spending Review I am also today firing the starting gun on a new approach to public service reform to drive greater productivity in the public sector.
We will embed an approach to government that is…
… mission-led…
… that is reform driven, with a greater focus on prevention and integration of services, at both a national and a local level..
… and that is enabled by new technology, including through the work of my RHF the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the opportunities of AI to improve our public services.
And we will establish a new Office of Value for Money, with an immediate focus on identifying areas where we can reduce, stop or improve the value of spending….
… and we will appoint a Covid Corruption Commissioner, to bring back money owed to taxpayers after contracts worth billions of pounds were handed out by the previous government during the pandemic.
Ahead of the Spending Review, I will also review the cost of our political system, including restricting eligibility for ministerial severance payments based on time in office.
I expect all levels of government to be run efficiently and effectively and I will work with leaders across our country to deliver that.
That means effective local government …
… a civil service delivering good value for the British taxpayer…
… and reform of our political institutions, including the House of Lords, to keep costs as low as possible.
The Budget and Spending Review will also set out further progress on our number one mission: to grow our economy.
Because economic growth is the only way to sustainably improve our public services and sustainably improve our public finances.
So we will use the Spending Review to prioritise specific areas of capital investment that leverage in billions more in private investment.
It won’t happen overnight.
It will take time and it will take focus.
But we have already made significant progress.
Planning reforms to get Britain building.
A National Wealth Fund to catalyse private investment
A pensions investment review to unlock capital for our businesses.
Skills England to create a shared national ambition to boost skills across our country.
And work across government on a new industrial strategy…
… driven forward by a Growth Mission Board to ensure we deliver on our commitments.
We have fundamental strengths on which we can build.
And I look forward to welcoming business leaders to the International Investment Summit in Britain later this year.
Because I know that if we can create the stable conditions which investors need to thrive, we can build on the UK’s strengths and return confidence to our economy..
… so that entrepreneurs and businesses big and small know that this is a place to do business as that is the bedrock on which economic growth must be built.
Mr Speaker, the inheritance from the previous government is unforgiveable.
Chancellor to pledge to ‘fix the foundations of our economy’ as she unveils the spending inheritance left by the previous government.
Reeves to set out reforms to deliver economic stability and protect the public finances, as she announces date of Budget later this year.
Office of Value for Money formed to challenge government to deliver better value for money for taxpayers.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will this afternoon (Monday 29 July, after 3:30pm) vow to ‘fix the foundations of our economy’ as she publishes an audit of the spending inheritance left by the previous administration.
Accusing the previous government of ‘covering up the true state of the public finances,’ the Chancellor will announce immediate action to restore economic stability and deliver departmental savings this financial year.
The announcements will be a response to the findings of the Treasury’s spending audit, which shows that the previous government overspent this year’s budgets by billions of pounds after making a series of unfunded promises.
The Chancellor will confirm that she has commissioned an Office for Budget Responsibility forecast to coincide with a Budget and Spending Review to be held later this year.
The Budget will set out how the government’s robust fiscal rules will be met: balancing the current budget so that day-to-day costs are met by revenues and getting debt falling as a share of the economy by the fifth year of the forecast.
Speaking in the House of Commons later today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to say: “Before the election, I said we would face the worst inheritance since the Second World War.
“Taxes at a seventy year high. Debt through the roof. An economy only just coming out of recession. I knew all those things. I was honest about them during the election campaign. And the difficult choices it meant.
“But upon my arrival at the Treasury three weeks ago, it became clear that there were things I did not know. Things that the party opposite covered up from the country.”
She will add: “It is time to level with the public and tell them the truth.
“The previous government refused to take the difficult decisions. They covered up the true state of the public finances. And then they ran away. I will never do that.
“The British people voted for change and we will deliver that change. I will restore economic stability. I will never stand by and let this happen again.
“We will fix the foundations of our economy, so we can rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off.”
The Chancellor will announce she is committing the government to one major fiscal event per year to put an end to ‘surprise budgets’ which have previously caused uncertainty for both the markets and family finances across the country.
A new Office of Value for Money will be established, using pre-existing civil service resource, to put an end to wasteful spending in government, providing targeted scrutiny of public spending so that value for money governs every decision government makes.
The Office will immediately begin work on identifying and recommending savings for the current financial year, while also establishing where targeted reforms of the system can ensure that poor value for money spending is cut off before it begins.
Reforms bearing down on waste in the public sector will also be announced today, driving efficiency through government departments and arms length bodies (ALBs). Immediate action will be taken to stop non-essential spending on consultants, alongside disposing of surplus estates and hastening delivering admin efficiencies in departments.
Earlier this month, the Government introduced the Budget Responsibility Bill at the King’s Speech to deliver economic stability by guaranteeing that never again can a government play fast and loose with the public finances.
The Bill ensures all significant fiscal announcements on tax or spending which are worth more than 1% of the UK’s GDP will be subject to scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility. This will guard against large-scale unfunded commitments in the future.
FORMER Tory Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the new Labour government is ‘peddling nonsense’. He added: “The books were wide open and what they show is a healthy, growing economy.”
The Conservatives claimed throughout the recent election campaign that Rachel Reeves secretly plans to raise taxes.
Plans to reveal which new hospitals, surgeries and treatment centres will be built in Scotland have been delayed.
In a letter to Holyrood’s finance committee, Cabinet secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison explained: ‘To provide as much certainty as possible to parliament and wider stakeholders of our capital investment plans, I must wait until I have confirmed capital allocations from the new UK government”.
That confirmation is not expected until late Autumn – and, given the new Labour government’s warnings about a £20 bn. ‘black hole in the UK’s finances, it’s not expected to be good news.
Lothian Conservative MSP, Miles Briggssaid: “This further delay to finding out if SNP Ministers will reinstate the funding for a new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is extremely disappointing.
“We urgently need a new eye hospital to improve the delivery of ophthalmology across the South East of Scotland.
“The decision by SNP Ministers not to reverse funding for a new hospital has been a disastrous decision and will ultimately lead to additional costs for the delivery of a new hospital.
“I will continue to lead calls for the funding for a new eye hospital. What we desperately need is to see some leadership from SNP Ministers.”
In this Account Commission briefing about Scotland’s Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), we report that community health and social care faces rising unmet need and managing the crisis is taking priority over prevention due to the multiple pressures facing the bodies providing these services.
IJBs plan and commission many vital community-based health and care services.
People
One in 25 people in Scotland receive social care.
Expected to rise sharply due to an ageing population – 76% of people receiving health and social care are aged 65 and over.
By mid-2045, the number of people aged 65 and over is set to grow by nearly a third.
Performance
Where data is available, nationally there has been a general decline in performance of services and outcomes for people.
Data quality and availability is insufficient to fully assess the performance of IJBs and inform how to improve outcomes for people who use services with a lack of joined- up data sharing.
Care
Community health and social care faces unprecedented pressures and financial uncertainty. We have not seen significant evidence of the shift in the balance of care from hospitals to the community intended by the creation of IJBs.
Finances
IJB funding has decreased by £1.1 billion (nine per cent) in real terms to £11 billion in 2022/23. The funding gap is set to triple in 2023/24.
IJBs are making savings by not filling staff vacancies and using their financial reserves, but this is not sustainable.
Staffing
Vacancies are at a record high. Nearly half of services report vacancies. A quarter of staff leave jobs within their first three months. And there is continued turnover in senior leadership.
Action is needed now
IJBS need to share learning to identify and develop:
service redesign focused on early intervention and prevention.
approaches focused on improving the recruitment and retention of the workforce.
improvement to the data available.
commissioning approaches that improve outcomes for people.
ensure that their financial plans are up to date.
IJBs need to work together and with other stakeholders to:
ensure that the annual budgets and proposed savings are achievable and sustainable.
ENGLAND’S SOCIAL CARE WATCHDOG ‘NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for regulating adult social care services in England, is ‘not fit for purpose’, according to the health secretary Wes Streeting.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting was responding to an independent review that identified ‘significant internal failings’ within the health and social care regulator.
The interim report, led by Dr Penny Dash, chair of the North West London Integrated Care Board, found the number of inspections being undertaken were well below pre-Covid levels.
It also revealed a lack of clinical expertise among inspectors, a lack of consistency in assessments and problems with the CQC’s IT system.
Commenting on her findings, Dr Dash said: ‘The contents of my interim report underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reform within the CQC.
‘By addressing these failings together, we can enhance the regulator’s ability to inspect and rate the safety and quality of health and social care services across England.’
Mr Streeting commented: ‘When I joined the department, it was already clear that the NHS was broken and the social care system in crisis.
‘But I have been stunned by the extent of the failings of the institution that is supposed to identify and act on failings. It’s clear to me the CQC is not fit for purpose.’ Kate Terroni, CQC’s interim chief executive, said the regulator accepts in full the findings and recommendations of the report.
‘Many of these align with areas we have prioritised as part of our work to restore trust with the public and providers by listening better, working together more collaboratively and being honest about what we’ve got wrong,’ she said.
‘We are working at pace and in consultation with our stakeholders to rebuild that trust and become the strong, credible, and effective regulator of health and care services that the public and providers need and deserve.’
The interim findings of the review of our operational effectiveness led by Dr Penelope Dash have been published this morning.In response, Kate Terroni, our interim chief executive, said: “We accept in full the findings and recommendations in this interim review, which identifies clear areas where improvement is urgently needed.
“Many of these align with areas we have prioritised as part of our work to restore trust with the public and providers by listening better, working together more collaboratively and being honest about what we’ve got wrong.
“We are working at pace and in consultation with our stakeholders to rebuild that trust and become the strong, credible, and effective regulator of health and care services that the public and providers need and deserve.
“Work is underway to improve how we’re using our new regulatory approach. We’ve committed to increasing the number of inspections we are doing so that the public have an up-to-date understanding of quality and providers are able to demonstrate improvement.
“We’re increasing the number of people working in registration so we can improve waiting times. We’re working to fix and improve our provider portal, and this time we’ll be listening to providers and to our colleagues about the improvements that are needed and how we can design solutions together.
“We’ll be working with people who use services and providers to develop a shared definition of what good care looks like. And we’re also developing a new approach to relationship management that enables a closer and more consistent contact point for providers.
“Additionally, to strengthen our senior level healthcare expertise, we have appointed Professor Sir Mike Richards to conduct a targeted review of how the single assessment framework is currently working for NHS trusts and where we can make improvements.
“Sir Mike’s career as a senior clinician, and a distinguished leader of high-profile national reviews, as well as his direct experience of driving improvement through regulation, make him uniquely placed to conduct this work.”
