MP Welcomes Most Ambitious Spending Round In A Decade

Wednesday, 4 September, 2019

Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage has welcomed today’s Spending Round announcement for 2020-21 which shows the fastest increase in day to day spending in 15 years.

The Spending Round statement by the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, focused on moving away from austerity, to renewal and creating opportunity for all as we leave the European Union.

There will be £750 million pounds to recruit 20 000 more police officers, 10 000 more prison places and a reform of the prison system. £80 million for the Crown Prosecution Service and 5% real terms budget increase for the Ministry of Justice will work to create a better functioning criminal justice system. Money has been dedicated to tackle serious and organised crime, attacks on places of worship and online sexual exploitation.

The NHS has been granted a £6.2 billion increase next year, after last year’s announcement that our healthcare system will receive an extra £34 billion a year by 2023/24. Councils have also received the largest increase in local government spending since 2010 as they receive £1.5 billion to tackle the huge financial demands of social care.

An extra £54 million has been pledged to bring the total spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping to £422 million.

To build on the 25 Year Plan to protect and preserve our environment, £432 million has been given to the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs. This includes £30 million to tackle air quality and £30 million to build biodiversity and expand the UK’s Blue Belt. Funding will help deliver on the Net Zero Emissions Target by 2050.

Schools will receive an extra £7.1 billion, meaning every schools funding will rise with inflation and pupils numbers, with historically underfunded schools receiving the most. This includes the money dedicated to increasing teachers salaries to £30 000 and £1.5 billion to teachers pensions. The Chancellor has also announced a new focus on youth investment and centres.

Caroline commented:

“I am pleased that the Government has pledged to invest in our vital public services, committing to ensure my constituents feel safe, have access to healthcare and quality education.”

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Economic Regeneration

Caroline has extensive experience with small and medium sized enterprises, both as a business owner for 20 years and from her role in Parliament.
Jobs and Skills

Caroline has worked tirelessly to fulfil her election pledge to secure the best future for the Daedalus site, a disused former Military Airfield, to increase jobs and skills in our area.
Transport and peninsular access

Caroline’s interventions have helped to secure a combined investment of over £90m since 2010 for highway improvement projects for the Gosport peninsula, including Newgate Lane North & South, St Margaret's Roundabout, the Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1a, Station Roundabout, Gudge Heath Lane/Redland
Health and Social Care

Caroline is passionate about protecting local health and care resources and was thrilled to learn that Gosport was chosen by the Department of Health to be part of their Vanguard project to improve community care.
Defence, Veterans & Service Personnel

As MP for a constituency with a deep rooted military history, Caroline is committed to protecting the area's defence industry.
Education and training

Ensuring everyone in Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head has access to the best education and training is essential to the future of the area.
Community organisations

From visiting national and local charities, community groups and organisations - including Age UK, the Sea Cadets and homeless charity Alabare - to hosting receptions in Westminster - such as for the Gosport Youth Council - to thank local volunteers, Caroline believes that voluntary organisations
Sport and Fitness

Caroline is proud of Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head’s fantastic sports heritage with BMX champion Ayesha McLelland, Invictus Games competitor John Shepard, world-class yachtsman Alex Thomson, yachtswoman Dee Caffari and Olympian Roger Black all hailing from the constituency
Brexit

In the referendum on the 23rd June 2016 Gosport and the British public voted to leave the European Union. Although Caroline voted to Remain, she respected the result of her constituents who voted Leave by 64%.
Environment

Protecting the environment and combating climate change is a personal passion of Caroline’s.
Marine

Caroline is involved in a number of marine issues, inspired by Gosport's peninsula location and the potential for the wider Portsmouth Harbour area for driving jobs, skills and economic prosperity through marine expansion.
Justice and Policing

Caroline works to support and improve policing, she meets regularly with Gosport and Fareham's Chief Inspector, the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Animal Welfare

A committed supporter of animal welfare, Caroline served as an honorary Vice-Chairman of the RSPCA. This enabled her to work with them on a number of national campaigns and join the local inspector on her rounds in Gosport.
Parliamentary Reform

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Women & Equalities

Caroline has always been a committed champion of women's equality. In particular, she has strived to inspire more women and girls to become business and career women and keenly encourages girls to take up STEM subjects in school.
Energy and Fuel

Caroline has been hugely concerned about the high energy and fuel prices that are hitting individuals and businesses hard.
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Caroline is strongly opposed to housing proposals that threaten the strategic gap between Gosport, Fareham and Stubbington, and has formally objected to both Fareham Borough Council and developers on a number of these proposals as well as Fareham's Draft Local Plan.