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WHITEHALL

Chancellor announces fast-tracked Spending Review

The Government will rush through a one-year Spending Review to help prepare for Brexit.

The Government will rush through a one-year Spending Review to help prepare for Brexit.

Chancellor Sajid Javid said the announcement will ensure departments and devolved administrations have the financial certainty needed to deliver on the Prime Minister's recent spending promises. 

The fast-tracked spending round will be completed next month, with a full multi-year Spending Review delayed until 2020.

Mr Javid, said: ‘The Prime Minister and I have asked for a fast-tracked spending round for September to set departmental budgets for next year.

'This will clear the ground ahead of Brexit while delivering on people's priorities.'

The District Councils' Network had been among those to call for a delay of the original three-year review.

But chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Rob Whiteman, said: 'A one-year spending round simply doesn't provide enough certainty for good financial planning and management.'

Shadow local government secretary, Andrew Gwynne, added: 'Councils will continue to face unprecedented uncertainty and planning for anything beyond next year will grind to a halt.'

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