The Government has got its kit on

The Chancellor has now delivered the long awaited Spending Review setting out departmental spending plans for the next five years. Whilst not a giveaway statement, with more money flowing across departments, this represents a very positive day for our sector. The headlines will, I suspect, focus on the politically very significant decision to abolish the proposed cuts to tax credits but there is some very positive news for us too.

It looks at an early stage, that:

• The Government has listened and recognised the importance and benefits of the work we do. Funding will be protected for the sector through the life of this Parliament
• The Sport England grant in aid budget will increase and the 2017-21 budget will be very similar to 2013-17, which represents a much more positive scenario than many had anticipated
• The UK Sport budget will rise significantly
• UKAD's funding will be maintained

The funding for the Sports Grounds Safety Authority will be increased.

The Chancellor talked of wanting to leave behind a stronger country for the next generation. We entirely agree with that – and let that include a future where people are equipped and have the opportunity to make healthy choices and to be active in whatever way they choose. A real focus on preventative investment and building a population fit for the future is essential.
Spending Review Summary

Departmental settlements:

• The role of arts, media, culture and of course sport in the economy were acknowledged;
• The DCMS administration budget will be cut by 20%
• The UK Sport budget will be increased by 29%
• Free museum entry and other key projects will be protected
• NHS spending will increase (though of course demand is also increasing). The total of this will be £10bn, with £6bn delivered in the first year. There is however to be a 25% cut in the Department of Health's Whitehall budget.
• There will be an increase in education spending, with the schools budget protected;
• The new national funding formula will equalise funding per pupil across England, which will mean reduced funding in higher cost areas and in areas of higher need.
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spending to be cut by 17%.
• Department for Transport spending will be reduced by 37%, though there was a specific mention for cycling infrastructure with planned investments of £300m to go ahead.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spending will be reduced by 15%.
• Department for Energy and Climate Change will be reduced by 22%.

Key facts

• The average departmental cut in real terms will be 0.8% per annum in this Parliament. This figure was around 2% per annum in the last Parliament.
• Welfare spending will fall sharply, with some increases to infrastructure spending.

Mental health was mentioned prominently in the speech – there will be an additional £600m of funds including for talking services, perinatal mental health services and crisis care.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne confirmed in the 2015 Spending Review that funding for sport has been protected in real terms throughout the rest of the current Parliament.

Despite widespread cuts to government spending, the funding for UK Sport has increased by 29%, while the Sport England Grant-in-Aid budget will increase and its 2017-21 budget will be at a very similar level to 2013-17. The budget for the UK Anti-Doping Agency will remain the same and funding for the Sports Ground Safety Authority will go up.

The Chancellor also announced that the Department for Culture Media and Sport's administrative budget will fall by 20%, and that public health spending will be cut by just under 4% per year.

The funding settlement follows the #GetYourKitOn campaign the Sport and Recreation Alliance has been running to protect grassroots sports and recreation. The campaign reached 15 million twitter timelines and resulted in nearly 1,500 direct emails being sent to the Treasury asking for grassroots funding to be protected.

Emma Boggis, Chief Executive of the Alliance said: "After campaignig hard with our members to persuade the government of the vital importance of sport and recreation, we're delighted that Government has recognised this with sustained investment in sport and recreation at all levels from the podium to the grassroots.

The Alliance also welcomes the increase to UK Sport funding. Our elite athletes have an incredible record of success. That success is good for the country in lots of ways - not least increasing national pride, creating role models and generating economic benefit through the continued delivery of major events in the UK."

Source: Text - http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/