Chancellor Gordon Brown announced an increase of 17 per cent in funding for Sure Start and an extra £100 for older people to help them pay council tax bills, writes David Callaghan.
He told the House of Commons as he announced his Budget that the extra £669 million per year for Sure Start by 2007-08 would help to establish 1,700 children’s centres in all of the country’s 20 per cent most disadvantaged areas, and an extra 100,000 new childcare places. The ultimate aim is of a children’s centre in every community.
There will also be a pilot scheme to offer 6,000 two-year-olds a free part-time early education place.
Every person over 70 will receive an extra £100 per year in addition to the winter fuel allowance.
The Chancellor also announced:
• cash incentives to help small business set up charity
payroll schemes
• a national community service scheme for young people
• deputy prime minister John Prescott to consult on ways of
increasing affordable housing provision
• job cuts at department of work and pensions down from total
of 130,000 to 100,000 by 2008
• NHS spending to rise 7.2 per cent per year until 2008
Sure Start-style scheme for older people would help tackle poverty
18 September 2003
Social fund needs overhaul
26 July 2001
Some benefits of the Budget
17 May 2000
Youth Justice and the Youth Justice Board
26 August 2008
Substance misuse
15 August 2008
Details of government consultations
21 August 2008
Private Member Bills
25 July 2008
Government Legislation
25 July 2008
