2008 budget announced today

Published: 12 March 2008

The chancellor, Alistair Darling, unveiled the 2008 budget today.

Among the highlights in this, his first budget, he announced a 2.2 per cent growth in public spending over the next three years, adding that this spending must be “matched by reform”.

The chancellor also stated that the focus on the NHS for the next decade will be on creating "world-class services".

In response to today’s budget, Dr Peter Carter, RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive said:

“Nurses were looking to this budget to maintain spending on healthcare for their patients, tackle the growing cost of living they face though rising bills, and reassurance on their pay.”

Dr Carter welcomed the chancellor’s comments on safeguarding health spending as “good news for patients”. However, he expressed his concerns about the chancellor’s two per cent limit on public sector pay rises. Dr Carter commented that these restrictions don’t consider the rising costs of living and “will not fill our members and their colleagues with much confidence.”

Housing was another key issue today’s budget. Mr Darling announced that from April, key workers such as nurses, will be able to borrow money from shared equity schemes.

Dr Carter also welcomed these new measures and tax breaks on shared ownership schemes as "moves to make it easier for nurses and other key workers to get on the housing ladder .”