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Health secretary: government to ‘fully fund’ NHS pay offer
Steve Barclay confirmed he is working with the Treasury to “fully fund” the NHS pay offer for 2023-24, as unions ballot members for strike action.
NHS bodies say footing the bill would mean service cuts, with budgets squeezed by inflation.
The arrangements will include “additional funding and reprioritising existing budgets”.
Council proposes £50m studio loan
Ashford Borough Council is considering loaning a subsidiary of media giant ABC £50m to develop a derelict railway into a film studio.
The investment could boost employment, and would provide £400,000 a year from interest.
The authority already secured £14.7m from the Levelling Up Fund for the project.
UK Infrastructure Bank made permanent
The UK Infrastructure Bank Act becoming law confirmed the climate change and regional development lender’s role.
‘Infrastructure’ now includes nature-based, not only technological, projects.
UKIB opened its Leeds headquarters in June 2021, and has invested £1.2bn, and ‘unlocked’ £5bn in private capital, supporting 4,500 jobs around the UK.
Yousaf promises reform in victory speech
Upon being named SNP leader, Humza Yousaf promised to protect Scots from the cost-of-living crisis and improve life chances.
He said he will reform the NHS, extend childcare, boost rural housing, reform the justice system and support business and innovation, and committed to achieving Scottish independence and rejoining the EU.
