The review will set UK Government departments’ resource
budgets for the years 2021/22 to 2023/24 and capital
budgets for the years 2021/22 until 2024/25, and devolved
administrations’ block grants for the same period.
The CSR will prioritise:
- strengthening the UK’s economic recovery from COVID-19
by prioritising jobs and skills
- levelling up economic opportunity across all nations
and regions of the country by investing in infrastructure,
innovation and people – thus closing the gap with our
competitors by spreading opportunity, maximising
productivity and improving the value add of each hour
worked
- improving outcomes in public services, including
supporting the NHS and taking steps to cut crime and ensure
every young person receives a superb education
- making the UK a scientific superpower, including
leading in the development of technologies that will
support the government’s ambition to reach net zero carbon
emissions by 2050
- strengthening the UK’s place in the world
- improving the management and delivery of our
commitments, ensuring that all departments have the
appropriate structures and processes in place to deliver
their outcomes and commitments on time and within budget
Due to unprecedented uncertainty, the Chancellor did not
fix a set spending envelope, but confirmed that
departments’ resource and capital budgets would grow above
inflation and that the government will deliver on the
commitments made at Budget to level up and invest in the
priorities of the British people.
Given the impact COVID-19 has had on the economy, the
Chancellor was clear there will need be tough choices in
other areas of spending at the review. As part of their
preparations for the CSR departments have been asked to
identify opportunities to reprioritise and deliver savings.
Departments will also be required to fulfil a series of
conditions in their returns, including providing evidence
they are delivering the government’s priorities and
focussing on delivery.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, , said:
The first phase of our economic response to coronavirus
was about safeguarding employment as far as possible. Our
goal in the second phase is to protect, create and
support jobs and we set out our plan to achieve this two
weeks ago.
The Comprehensive Spending Review is our opportunity to
deliver on the third phase of our recovery plan – where
we will honour the commitments made in the March Budget
to rebuild, level up and invest in people and places
spreading opportunities more evenly across the nation.
To help frame the government’s approach at the Spending
Review, an interim report of the Net Zero Review will be
published this Autumn, followed by a final report in the
Spring.
HMT has opened a process for the Comprehensive Spending
Review to allow external stakeholders to submit
representations.
Further information
- The Chancellor’s letter outlined that in the interest
of fairness we must exercise restraint in future public
sector pay awards, ensuring that across this year and the
spending review period, public sector pay levels retain
parity with the private sector.
- The date for the conclusion of the review will be
confirmed in due course.
- Representations to the CSR can be submitted here.
