This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/politics/10341015.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Government axes £2bn of projects | Government axes £2bn of projects |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mr Alexander said only the highest priority hospital schemes would go ahead and they were looking at the "building schools for the future" programme which had been "heavily over-committed". | Mr Alexander said only the highest priority hospital schemes would go ahead and they were looking at the "building schools for the future" programme which had been "heavily over-committed". |
| He said the government had approved a number of projects including funding for essential medicines in case of a flu pandemic, some hospital projects, support for post offices and spending on "crucial military equipment" in Afghanistan. | He said the government had approved a number of projects including funding for essential medicines in case of a flu pandemic, some hospital projects, support for post offices and spending on "crucial military equipment" in Afghanistan. |
| Sheffield Forgemasters was told in March it would receive the £80m loan to build a world-leading 15,000 tonne press to supply specialist components for the nuclear industry. It aimed to help the firm to bid for contracts on the next generation of nuclear power stations. | Sheffield Forgemasters was told in March it would receive the £80m loan to build a world-leading 15,000 tonne press to supply specialist components for the nuclear industry. It aimed to help the firm to bid for contracts on the next generation of nuclear power stations. |
| The BBC's Danny Savage said although cancelling the loan would not mean redundancies, it had been hoped the loan would help create 200 jobs at Sheffield Forgemasters and 200 jobs outside as well - one worker told him people were "absolutely gutted". | The BBC's Danny Savage said although cancelling the loan would not mean redundancies, it had been hoped the loan would help create 200 jobs at Sheffield Forgemasters and 200 jobs outside as well - one worker told him people were "absolutely gutted". |
| The announcement was met by cries of "shame" from Labour MPs. | The announcement was met by cries of "shame" from Labour MPs. |
| Forgemasters Chief Executive Graham Honeyman said it was "a huge disappointment to all at the company," but he said it would now focus on other elements in its development. | Forgemasters Chief Executive Graham Honeyman said it was "a huge disappointment to all at the company," but he said it would now focus on other elements in its development. |
| Hospital cancelled | |
| Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said it seemed like "a very strong commercial deal" adding: "I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be able to be financed from financial markets. I believe that company can go ahead with that project." | Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said it seemed like "a very strong commercial deal" adding: "I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be able to be financed from financial markets. I believe that company can go ahead with that project." |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, a Sheffield MP, told the BBC he was "angry" that they had had to take the decision to cancel the loan "because of the dishonesty of the outgoing Labour government making promises to the people of Sheffield, raising false hopes among the people of Sheffield, making pre-election bribes with money that didn't even exist". | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, a Sheffield MP, told the BBC he was "angry" that they had had to take the decision to cancel the loan "because of the dishonesty of the outgoing Labour government making promises to the people of Sheffield, raising false hopes among the people of Sheffield, making pre-election bribes with money that didn't even exist". |
| But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the withdrawal of the loan would damage manufacturing and threaten Britain's "transition to a low carbon economy". | But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the withdrawal of the loan would damage manufacturing and threaten Britain's "transition to a low carbon economy". |
| A string of North East Labour MPs attacked Mr Alexander in the Commons over the decision to cancel the planned "super hospital" on Teesside, accusing the Tories and Lib Dems of tearing up their manifesto commitment to protect front line health spending. | A string of North East Labour MPs attacked Mr Alexander in the Commons over the decision to cancel the planned "super hospital" on Teesside, accusing the Tories and Lib Dems of tearing up their manifesto commitment to protect front line health spending. |
| He was also attacked for scrapping the Future Jobs Fund and the planned extension to a scheme guaranteeing work or training for the young unemployed. He said it would be replaced by a more effective scheme next year. | He was also attacked for scrapping the Future Jobs Fund and the planned extension to a scheme guaranteeing work or training for the young unemployed. He said it would be replaced by a more effective scheme next year. |
| The chief secretary also announced an urgent review of inherited spending commitments for 2010-11, totalling at least £1bn, where funding was reliant on underspending. | The chief secretary also announced an urgent review of inherited spending commitments for 2010-11, totalling at least £1bn, where funding was reliant on underspending. |
YOUR VIEWSReaders of the BBC News website have been sharing their views on the cuts. Here is a selection of comments. | YOUR VIEWSReaders of the BBC News website have been sharing their views on the cuts. Here is a selection of comments. |
| I am currently on a six month placement that I got through the Future Jobs Fund. Before I got this position I had been on Job Seeker Allowance for nearly five months. Although I'm earning the minimum wage, I'm getting experience which looks good on my CV. Some people my age don't get the opportunity to work in a desired sector before university. Cutting this funding will hinder a lot of young people's ability to find jobs that not only they can do but will enjoy and therefore do productively. | I am currently on a six month placement that I got through the Future Jobs Fund. Before I got this position I had been on Job Seeker Allowance for nearly five months. Although I'm earning the minimum wage, I'm getting experience which looks good on my CV. Some people my age don't get the opportunity to work in a desired sector before university. Cutting this funding will hinder a lot of young people's ability to find jobs that not only they can do but will enjoy and therefore do productively. |
| Tim, Hastings | Tim, Hastings |
| Cutting a loan to a manufacturer who was intent on investing in machinery which would help long-term employment, growth and provide a much needed world leading manufacturing capability is very short-sighted and wrong. The amount of money here was very small indeed. | Cutting a loan to a manufacturer who was intent on investing in machinery which would help long-term employment, growth and provide a much needed world leading manufacturing capability is very short-sighted and wrong. The amount of money here was very small indeed. |
| Dave, Mildenhall | Dave, Mildenhall |
| Sheffield Forgemasters were to be loaned £80mn for 160 possible jobs. At that rate it would be cheaper to pay 200 people a wage to clean the streets for several years. If this was a worthwhile project, why couldn't the banks make the loan instead of taxpayers? It beggars belief to see what proposed spending was still planned in spite of the financial situation | Sheffield Forgemasters were to be loaned £80mn for 160 possible jobs. At that rate it would be cheaper to pay 200 people a wage to clean the streets for several years. If this was a worthwhile project, why couldn't the banks make the loan instead of taxpayers? It beggars belief to see what proposed spending was still planned in spite of the financial situation |
| Geoff, Swansea | Geoff, Swansea |
| I accept cuts have to be made but please don't describe improving visitor facilities at Stonehenge as a crazy bit of wasteful spending. It is one of the UK's most important cultural sites and a big tourist attraction. This is the government cutting back on vital investment and they should own up to that | I accept cuts have to be made but please don't describe improving visitor facilities at Stonehenge as a crazy bit of wasteful spending. It is one of the UK's most important cultural sites and a big tourist attraction. This is the government cutting back on vital investment and they should own up to that |
| Rob, St Albans | Rob, St Albans |
| How can we be upset about any cuts the government makes? We are overspending by £3bn per week. We need to make cuts to start to pay off the £900bn we owe as a country. Sadly these finances are related to me as I live in this country and pay tax. I want them to cut as much as they can so that we can get rid of the terrifying debt mountain that is threatening to crush us as a country. Cut away! | How can we be upset about any cuts the government makes? We are overspending by £3bn per week. We need to make cuts to start to pay off the £900bn we owe as a country. Sadly these finances are related to me as I live in this country and pay tax. I want them to cut as much as they can so that we can get rid of the terrifying debt mountain that is threatening to crush us as a country. Cut away! |
| Richard, London | Richard, London |
| Read your comments | Read your comments |