Keep investing in services, union urges

Public sector union Unison called on the chancellor to “hold his
nerve” and maintain investment in public services, arguing that it
would pay dividends in the next few years.

It also called for better public sector pay and for more money for
the 1,000 new children’s centres trailed in the pre-budget report.
The Daycare Trust called for an increase in the percentage of child
care costs covered in the working tax credit.

The budget is due the day after Community Care goes to press. It
was expected to include extra money for housing after a
Treasury-sponsored report identified a need for thousands more
affordable homes.