Budget 2017: 'Crippling' NHS rates hike adds to pressure on Hammond

[Northerner]

Pressure is growing on Phillip Hammond to soften the blow of business rates hikes in his Budget 2017, as focus falls on a "crippling" £635m jump in the bill for NHS trusts over the next five years.

Industry lobby groups are also intensifying calls to offer relief for small businesses to stop online retailers such as Amazon enjoying an unfair advantage.

New business rates, which are levied on companies with commercial premises, come into action in April, the first time they have changed since 2008. They will see firms' rates reassessed to take into account the rise in property values over the last nine years.

The government says the reform will be revenue neutral and has set aside £3.6bn to phase any increase in costs in over five years.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/81592/budget-2017-crippling-nhs-rates-hike-adds-to-pressure-on-hammond

What's the point of giving the NHS money and then taking it back again in other taxes?

 

[grovesy]

Another crazy scheme.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Another nail in the coffin 😡

Can we ask Boris where the extra £350 million is that he promised to the NHS in the 'leave' campaign? Oh hang on........

 

[Ditto]

I don't think the NHS will last our lifetimes...

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I don't think the NHS will last our lifetimes...

Totally agree sadly

 

[trophywench]

It's very very difficult though - I mean, just like Pensions - were we 20 we should have SOME chance of providing for our future whereas once we're retired - and sadly our reliance on the NHS generally and definitely in most cases becomes far greater than it ever has been before - we only have two chances of finding the dosh to go private - ie little or none.

It really frightens me.

 

[grovesy]

It's very very difficult though - I mean, just like Pensions - were we 20 we should have SOME chance of providing for our future whereas once we're retired - and sadly our reliance on the NHS generally and definitely in most cases becomes far greater than it ever has been before - we only have two chances of finding the dosh to go private - ie little or none.

It really frightens me.

I think the Health Insurance system would need reforming, if the NHS were to fail.

 

[mikeyB]

When the government allows public schools charitable status, which might have been reasonable 200 years ago, but certainly isn't now, why can't the give the NHS the same nominal benefit?