Nolan this morning is building its attack on Treasury figures (pdf file). However, the figures don't provide the backing that is claimed. Table 9.16 shows the difference in spending is minimal. With 100 in 2009-2010 the baseline spending was:
England 99
Scotland 108
Wales 102
NI 98
Nolan is also ignoring the significant regional variation within England:
North East 109
North West 107
Y'shire & Hum 98
East Mids 91
West Mids 99
East 112
South East 92
South West 94
Table 9.15 sets out per head expenditure, in 2009-2010 the English average was £1,896 while Northern Ireland it was at £1,881. In terms of at regional level, the following English regions spent the same or less:
Y'shire & Hum £1882
East Midlands £1744
East £1711
South East £1759
South West £1807
What this all means is that to present the situation as plenty in England and famine in Northern Ireland is a misrepresentation.
Nolan is also following McGimpsey's failure to finish the sentence even when he talks about "priorities". The same Treasury figures point to the answer Nolan and McGimpsey don't want to discuss. The following would face savage cuts to bring NI in line with England:
1. Housing and community amenities
2. General Public services
3. Recreation, culture and religion
4. Economic affairs
5. Public order and safety
The following would face significant cuts
6. Social Protection
The following would face cuts:
7. Education
1 comment:
It is surely also of note that the highest spender, Scotland, has comfortably the lowest life expectancy.
We have to tackle this nonsense that more spending necessarily delivers better outcomes.
Any Health Minister should be restructuring the service so that what money is available delivers more.
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