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Treasury report reopens NHS funding debate

nhs logo The author of the Treasury-commissioned report on NHS funding raised the possibility of more private delivery of care, reopening the debate on how the UK should pay for health provision. The comments came just two days after Gordon Brown appeared to use Mr Wanless's report to end arguments over health funding by ruling out all alternatives to general taxation. 10:32  | Read

Blair aides insist UK will meet NHS spending pledge

UK health spending will reach the European Union average by March 2006 without a huge boost, Downing Street said, as argument raged about the cost of reviving the National Health Service. 10:28  | Read


Pre-Budget 2001 on FT.com

Read the full text of the Chancellors speech click here
Key speech points here
Reactions from the Big Five here
Video analysis here

Speech
graphic Pre-Budget speech - full text
View the full text of Gordon Brown's pre-Budget report.
Views
graphic Reactions to the pre-Budget statement
Views from the "Big 5", economists, trade unions, RDAs, pressure groups.
Man in the news
Blair's unhappy friend
The smashed crockery has been tidied away. Calm has been restored in the house of New Labour after the latest squall involving the sometimes turbulent relationship between Tony Blair, the prime minister, and his powerful chancellor of the exchequer, Gordon Brown.
Personal view
graphic A tax reform offensive
War is hell. But not for tax reformers. A time when national and personal priorities are reassessed is a time for change. Old prejudices can be abandoned and past mistakes admitted.