Spring Statement Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Spring Statement

William Wragg Excerpts
Tuesday 13th March 2018

(6 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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Of course I did no such thing. [Interruption.] No, I did not. We spend more than £50 billion a year on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions. That is a record high, and we have spent £7.5 billion more in real terms since 2010. As a share of GDP, our public spending on disability and incapacity is the second highest in the G7. It amounts to 2.5% of our GDP and to 6% of all Government spending.

William Wragg Portrait Mr William Wragg (Hazel Grove) (Con)
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My right hon. Friend has struck the right balance between the need for financial discipline and the justifiable need for investment in public services. With that in mind, will he ensure in the autumn Budget that additional funds are provided for schools to ensure the successful implementation of the national funding formula, which we welcomed in Stockport?

Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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When she was Education Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening) announced that the fair funding formula would be introduced in a way that would protect per capita spending per pupil, and we would guarantee that every school would receive a cash-terms increase. That guarantee stands today.[Official Report, 24 April 2018, Vol. 639, c. 8MC.]