Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones has insisted the UK is not heading for austerity despite the government's planned cost-cutting drive.
Speaking on GB News, Jones emphasised that public service funding is actually increasing.
"It's not austerity because we're increasing the amount of money we're putting into our public services," he told the Camilla Tominey Show.
The Treasury chief said the government is committed to reviewing departmental spending while ensuring vital services receive proper funding.
Jones highlighted the significant financial boost provided in the autumn Budget last year.
"There was a huge increase at the Budget in the autumn last year, £100 billion of additional capital investment, £40 billion of additional tax rises going straight into front line public services," he said.
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He described this as "a big injection of spending" necessary to address public services.
The Treasury Chief Secretary explained this funding was needed "to get a grip of public services after the mess that we found them in from the last Conservative administration."
Jones explained that the government has initiated a comprehensive spending review process.
"We have asked departments to plan against certain scenarios, but we've not come to any conclusions yet," he stated.
He emphasised the thoroughness of the approach being taken.
"It's right that we're looking line by line, at every pound the government spends, the first time that's been done in 17 years," Jones said.
The Treasury Chief added they aim to modernise the State "so that it's achieving better outcomes for people in the future at a lower cost."
Addressing reports of potential departmental cuts exceeding 11 per cent, Jones clarified these were merely "planning assumptions" rather than confirmed decisions.
"We're now just working through that process of negotiation where we're looking at those results line by line, and we publish the public spending plans in June," he explained.
On welfare reforms, Jones said changes were necessary because "the welfare system as designed was not being operated in that way."
He defended the reforms as ensuring support for those entering work while providing "appropriate support" for the severely disabled.
Jones denied accusations that the government was "clobbering businesses" despite increased National Insurance contributions for employers.
He pointed to positive job market figures as evidence of economic health.
"We've seen from the jobs figures over the last quarter, a growth of nearly 200,000 new additional jobs in the labour market here in the UK," he stated.
Jones emphasised that the National Insurance changes were designed to protect smaller enterprises.
"50 per cent of businesses in this country will either be paying the same amount or less than they did before," he explained.
Jones emphasised the government's commitment to economic growth.
"We want to go further and faster on the economy. We recognise we need to get more growth into the economy and to help businesses to do that," he stated.
He highlighted a recently announced construction package as an example of this approach.
"We think we can get 60,000 additional jobs in engineering, bricklaying, electrical and carpentry skills by supporting the construction industry," Jones said.
He described this as "exactly the type of outcome we're trying to achieve for young people across the country."
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Speaking on GB News, Jones emphasised that public service funding is actually increasing.
"It's not austerity because we're increasing the amount of money we're putting into our public services," he told the Camilla Tominey Show.
The Treasury chief said the government is committed to reviewing departmental spending while ensuring vital services receive proper funding.
Jones highlighted the significant financial boost provided in the autumn Budget last year.
"There was a huge increase at the Budget in the autumn last year, £100 billion of additional capital investment, £40 billion of additional tax rises going straight into front line public services," he said.
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He described this as "a big injection of spending" necessary to address public services.
The Treasury Chief Secretary explained this funding was needed "to get a grip of public services after the mess that we found them in from the last Conservative administration."
Jones explained that the government has initiated a comprehensive spending review process.
"We have asked departments to plan against certain scenarios, but we've not come to any conclusions yet," he stated.
He emphasised the thoroughness of the approach being taken.
"It's right that we're looking line by line, at every pound the government spends, the first time that's been done in 17 years," Jones said.
The Treasury Chief added they aim to modernise the State "so that it's achieving better outcomes for people in the future at a lower cost."
Addressing reports of potential departmental cuts exceeding 11 per cent, Jones clarified these were merely "planning assumptions" rather than confirmed decisions.
"We're now just working through that process of negotiation where we're looking at those results line by line, and we publish the public spending plans in June," he explained.
On welfare reforms, Jones said changes were necessary because "the welfare system as designed was not being operated in that way."
He defended the reforms as ensuring support for those entering work while providing "appropriate support" for the severely disabled.
Jones denied accusations that the government was "clobbering businesses" despite increased National Insurance contributions for employers.
He pointed to positive job market figures as evidence of economic health.
"We've seen from the jobs figures over the last quarter, a growth of nearly 200,000 new additional jobs in the labour market here in the UK," he stated.
Jones emphasised that the National Insurance changes were designed to protect smaller enterprises.
"50 per cent of businesses in this country will either be paying the same amount or less than they did before," he explained.
Jones emphasised the government's commitment to economic growth.
"We want to go further and faster on the economy. We recognise we need to get more growth into the economy and to help businesses to do that," he stated.
He highlighted a recently announced construction package as an example of this approach.
"We think we can get 60,000 additional jobs in engineering, bricklaying, electrical and carpentry skills by supporting the construction industry," Jones said.
He described this as "exactly the type of outcome we're trying to achieve for young people across the country."
Find Out More...