Latest news with #Dreadnought
The National
7 hours ago
- Business
- The National
UK ‘growth' strategy is making the world a more dangerous place
Either way, the question is academic. Neither can be used, at the moment, without Donald Trump's say-so, and I suspect he would only deliver that say-so if it would benefit the United States. What the current cost might be for the Dreadnought nuclear submarines being built by the time they are ready – this is currently running at £41 billion including contingency costs – is anyone's guess. READ MORE: Treasury says Rachel Reeves crying at PMQs was 'personal matter' In addition to this astronomical expenditure, Keir Starmer has now ordered twelve F-35 nuclear-bomb-carrying stealth jets from the US at an as-yet-unknown price or delivery date. Why does the RAF needs stealth bombers in the first place, let alone 12 of such an aircraft? I appreciate that it might have something to do with Nato, in which Trump appears to have little interest, having walked out of its last little jolly before the end of its agenda. However, if it means selling American-made armaments, then that probably would be to his delight. Keir Starmer has already admitted that he took his eye off the ball (when parliament was about to vote down his welfare policies) through his complete attention on all things Nato and his notion of being an important world leader. READ MORE: Plane damaged by Palestine Action at Brize Norton spotted over Scotland It looks to me that he has still put his world leadership notions to the fore with a pathetic attempt to pacify his MPs, while still pandering to all things nuclear in the arms industry. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has flown to Turkey on a trade mission involving any defence ties the UK has with that country. He wants to export a number of UK Eurofighter Typhoons jets. This is all part of another free-trade agreement, this time between the UK and Turkey. Talk about UK policies on growth. More like contributing to making the world a more dangerous planet. Why on earth anyone in Holyrood would want to be a part of this is beyond my comprehension. Time yet again to make more noise regarding Scotland's independence. Alan Magnus-Bennett Fife TUESDAY'S 'click bait' was on BBC Scotland's Mornings with Kaye Adams, where the producers covered the UK Government's reduction of Personal Independence Payments, the Scottish version of which – called Adult Disability Payment – will be affected due to the way the Barnett Formula works. The initial guests were from the TaxPayers' Alliance and The Poverty Alliance, both with differing views. The taxpayer guy said the benefits bill was predicted to 'rocket' to £70 billion in 2035. The key word being 'rocket'. The poverty guy said that the wealth gap was increasing, with more people needing help. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar 'totally humiliated' by Labour's dramatic benefits U-turn What I find disgraceful is the frequent anecdotes broadcast about 'the guy who lives next door and never works', who has a wife in another house and is living with his bidie-in, to whom he has sired a child, who have two cars and the latest smart phones. This is the same trope that the Conservatives used during the 1980s in Thatcher's era, which lambasted people that had been turfed out of a job. They were told to 'get on their bikes to find a job' by Norman Tebbit, the Chingford Skinhead named by the Spitting Image crew. They were lazy and good for nothing, waiting for handouts. Whilst there are undoubtedly some people with the intention of getting something for nothing, the popular press during that time and again now seem to be creating a view that this abuse is rife. The truth is something quite different. READ MORE: What it's actually like to apply for DWP disability benefits Hansard (the Westminster Parliament record of reference) states that the overall rate of overpayments is now 3.7% (£9.7 billion) for 2023-24, compared to 3.6% (£8.3 billion) in 2022-23. Overpayments due to fraud were 2.8% compared to 2.7% last year while claimant error and official error remained at 0.6% and 0.3% respectively. The rate of overpayments in Universal Credit was 12.4% in 2023-24 compared to 12.7% in 2022-23. Compare this to tax evasion. The UK's tax gap has widened, according to latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs. New data show that the UK missed out on £46.8bn of tax liabilities in the 2023-2024 financial year, or 5.3% of the total theoretical tax liabilities. The gap refers to the difference between the total amount of taxes owed to the government and the amount actually collected. In 2024 this was reported to be £39.8bn or 4.8% of overall theoretical liabilities. It would seem that pursuing tax-avoidance loopholes would be a better use of parliamentary time and effort. Alistair Ballantyne Angus I WAS well impressed with Pat Kane's article 'Are you one of the doomscrollers? It's time for us to focus on hope instead' (June 28). He articulated on a number of issues that concern me. 'Hopescroll' – spot on. James Grosset Montrose
South Wales Guardian
19-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Maintenance fund to give £9bn a year to fix schools, hospitals and prisons
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said £6 billion a year would go to repairing hospitals, £3 billion to schools and colleges and £600 million to courts and prisons as part of Labour's plans for 'national renewal'. The maintenance fund is part of the minimum £725 billion committed to boost infrastructure in the 10-year plan, he told the Commons. The Government hopes this preventative action will break the cycle of emergency repairs in public infrastructure. It will go towards making court facilities better in a bid to reduce backlogs, and improving safety and security in prisons across England and Wales. Removing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) will be among the measures taken to update health facilities. The Treasury minister told MPs: 'Done properly it will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country, our local roads and high streets renewed so communities are even better places to live. Our public transport more available and more reliable, making it easier for people to get around and access opportunities. 'Our schools and hospitals and GP surgeries fit for the future to deliver for generations to come, and a country that will be stronger and more resilient. 'Communities will see the difference as this Labour Government delivers on the promise of change and a decade of national renewal.' The strategy also includes £1 billion to fix roads, bridges and flyovers and £590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing project. Some £16 billion of public investment will go towards building 500,000 new homes through a new publicly owned National Housing Bank. This is expected to unlock more than £53 billion of private investment. Around £7.9 billion over 10 years will be invested in maintaining and creating new flood defences with the aim of benefiting 840,000 properties. The strategy covers a decade but the spending review cycle every two years will provide a juncture to decide whether to go ahead with projects. A 'pipeline' of projects will be published online in mid-July and will be updated every six months. The chief secretary's shadow counterpart Richard Fuller urged him to set out which major projects are being abandoned and explain why. The pipeline is a digital dashboard that will give an overview of projects the Government is procuring on a map, Mr Jones said in response. 'It will show on a map of the country which projects we're procuring, when and where to give investors and businesses that long-term confidence about the jobs that are going to be available, so that they can invest in their own workforce,' he said. The strategy does not cover so-called megaprojects which cost more than £10 billion and take more than 10 years to deliver – currently the HS2 railway, Sizewell C nuclear plant and the Dreadnought submarine programme. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest. 'We're not just fixing buildings – we're enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK. We're delivering on a decade of national renewal we promised Britain. 'This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.'
North Wales Chronicle
19-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Maintenance fund to give £9bn a year to fix schools, hospitals and prisons
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said £6 billion a year would go to repairing hospitals, £3 billion to schools and colleges and £600 million to courts and prisons as part of Labour's plans for 'national renewal'. The maintenance fund is part of the minimum £725 billion committed to boost infrastructure in the 10-year plan, he told the Commons. The Government hopes this preventative action will break the cycle of emergency repairs in public infrastructure. It will go towards making court facilities better in a bid to reduce backlogs, and improving safety and security in prisons across England and Wales. Removing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) will be among the measures taken to update health facilities. The Treasury minister told MPs: 'Done properly it will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country, our local roads and high streets renewed so communities are even better places to live. Our public transport more available and more reliable, making it easier for people to get around and access opportunities. 'Our schools and hospitals and GP surgeries fit for the future to deliver for generations to come, and a country that will be stronger and more resilient. 'Communities will see the difference as this Labour Government delivers on the promise of change and a decade of national renewal.' The strategy also includes £1 billion to fix roads, bridges and flyovers and £590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing project. Some £16 billion of public investment will go towards building 500,000 new homes through a new publicly owned National Housing Bank. This is expected to unlock more than £53 billion of private investment. Around £7.9 billion over 10 years will be invested in maintaining and creating new flood defences with the aim of benefiting 840,000 properties. The strategy covers a decade but the spending review cycle every two years will provide a juncture to decide whether to go ahead with projects. A 'pipeline' of projects will be published online in mid-July and will be updated every six months. The chief secretary's shadow counterpart Richard Fuller urged him to set out which major projects are being abandoned and explain why. The pipeline is a digital dashboard that will give an overview of projects the Government is procuring on a map, Mr Jones said in response. 'It will show on a map of the country which projects we're procuring, when and where to give investors and businesses that long-term confidence about the jobs that are going to be available, so that they can invest in their own workforce,' he said. The strategy does not cover so-called megaprojects which cost more than £10 billion and take more than 10 years to deliver – currently the HS2 railway, Sizewell C nuclear plant and the Dreadnought submarine programme. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest. 'We're not just fixing buildings – we're enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK. We're delivering on a decade of national renewal we promised Britain. 'This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.'
Rhyl Journal
19-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Maintenance fund to give £9bn a year to fix schools, hospitals and prisons
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said £6 billion a year would go to repairing hospitals, £3 billion to schools and colleges and £600 million to courts and prisons as part of Labour's plans for 'national renewal'. The maintenance fund is part of the minimum £725 billion committed to boost infrastructure in the 10-year plan, he told the Commons. The Government hopes this preventative action will break the cycle of emergency repairs in public infrastructure. It will go towards making court facilities better in a bid to reduce backlogs, and improving safety and security in prisons across England and Wales. Removing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) will be among the measures taken to update health facilities. The Treasury minister told MPs: 'Done properly it will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country, our local roads and high streets renewed so communities are even better places to live. Our public transport more available and more reliable, making it easier for people to get around and access opportunities. 'Our schools and hospitals and GP surgeries fit for the future to deliver for generations to come, and a country that will be stronger and more resilient. 'Communities will see the difference as this Labour Government delivers on the promise of change and a decade of national renewal.' The strategy also includes £1 billion to fix roads, bridges and flyovers and £590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing project. Some £16 billion of public investment will go towards building 500,000 new homes through a new publicly owned National Housing Bank. This is expected to unlock more than £53 billion of private investment. Around £7.9 billion over 10 years will be invested in maintaining and creating new flood defences with the aim of benefiting 840,000 properties. The strategy covers a decade but the spending review cycle every two years will provide a juncture to decide whether to go ahead with projects. A 'pipeline' of projects will be published online in mid-July and will be updated every six months. The chief secretary's shadow counterpart Richard Fuller urged him to set out which major projects are being abandoned and explain why. The pipeline is a digital dashboard that will give an overview of projects the Government is procuring on a map, Mr Jones said in response. 'It will show on a map of the country which projects we're procuring, when and where to give investors and businesses that long-term confidence about the jobs that are going to be available, so that they can invest in their own workforce,' he said. The strategy does not cover so-called megaprojects which cost more than £10 billion and take more than 10 years to deliver – currently the HS2 railway, Sizewell C nuclear plant and the Dreadnought submarine programme. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest. 'We're not just fixing buildings – we're enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK. We're delivering on a decade of national renewal we promised Britain. 'This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.'
South Wales Argus
19-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Maintenance fund to give £9bn a year to fix schools, hospitals and prisons
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said £6 billion a year would go to repairing hospitals, £3 billion to schools and colleges and £600 million to courts and prisons as part of Labour's plans for 'national renewal'. The maintenance fund is part of the minimum £725 billion committed to boost infrastructure in the 10-year plan, he told the Commons. The Government hopes this preventative action will break the cycle of emergency repairs in public infrastructure. It will go towards making court facilities better in a bid to reduce backlogs, and improving safety and security in prisons across England and Wales. Removing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) will be among the measures taken to update health facilities. The Treasury minister told MPs: 'Done properly it will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country, our local roads and high streets renewed so communities are even better places to live. Our public transport more available and more reliable, making it easier for people to get around and access opportunities. 'Our schools and hospitals and GP surgeries fit for the future to deliver for generations to come, and a country that will be stronger and more resilient. 'Communities will see the difference as this Labour Government delivers on the promise of change and a decade of national renewal.' Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones (James Manning/PA) The strategy also includes £1 billion to fix roads, bridges and flyovers and £590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing project. Some £16 billion of public investment will go towards building 500,000 new homes through a new publicly owned National Housing Bank. This is expected to unlock more than £53 billion of private investment. Around £7.9 billion over 10 years will be invested in maintaining and creating new flood defences with the aim of benefiting 840,000 properties. The strategy covers a decade but the spending review cycle every two years will provide a juncture to decide whether to go ahead with projects. A 'pipeline' of projects will be published online in mid-July and will be updated every six months. The chief secretary's shadow counterpart Richard Fuller urged him to set out which major projects are being abandoned and explain why. The pipeline is a digital dashboard that will give an overview of projects the Government is procuring on a map, Mr Jones said in response. 'It will show on a map of the country which projects we're procuring, when and where to give investors and businesses that long-term confidence about the jobs that are going to be available, so that they can invest in their own workforce,' he said. The strategy does not cover so-called megaprojects which cost more than £10 billion and take more than 10 years to deliver – currently the HS2 railway, Sizewell C nuclear plant and the Dreadnought submarine programme. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest. 'We're not just fixing buildings – we're enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK. We're delivering on a decade of national renewal we promised Britain. 'This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.'
