Pension Changes In Budget Will Hit Local Services - Farron

Hidden cuts in the budget will hit local services, according to Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, as research shows the NHS is set to lose £650million due to pension changes.

Research by the Liberal Democrats and the House of Commons Library shows that changes to the 'discount rate' for pensions, which will pass the cost from central government directly to the NHS and other public sector bodies, will lead to significant budget shortfalls for key services.

The changes which will take effect from 2019/20, will see the NHS nationally lose £650million, whilst the education budget will face costs of £427million and the police budget £102 million.

Tim said: "This is extremely concerning. As ever, the devil is in the detail when it comes to the budget - beneath the flashy headlines, there are changes in the small print which will hit crucial services which are already facing cuts to their budgets. It is front-line services that will suffer as a result of these changes.

"Our local services in South Lakeland are already under significant pressure, yet the government is asking them to make yet more cuts. George Osborne has made an ideological decision to make further cuts, and it is front-line services which will suffer. Osborne is willing to make grand statements, but at the same time is trying to introduce cuts through the back door."