In the wake of the 2017 general election, much commentary has focussed on the impact public spending cuts had on the result. Less attention has been paid to assessing by how much public spending has actually been reduced.
Click the link here for our latest research note on government spending.
Key findings
- In 2016-17 public spending was £1.3 billion lower than in it was in 2009-10 (real terms). A fall of 0.2 per cent
- In 2016-17 day-to-day public spending was £14.3 billion higher than it was in 2009-10 (real terms). An increase of 2.1 per cent
- Per household, public spending in 2016-17 was £1,121 higher than it was in 2007-08 (real terms): £28,529
- In 2016-17 spending on welfare for people of working age and children was 3.9 per cent lower than it was in 2009-10 (real terms)
- In 2016-17 spending on welfare for pensioners was 12.1 per cent higher than it was in 2009-10 (real terms)
- Two departments experienced real-terms budget increases between 2010-11 and 2015-16: Health and International Development