Darcey Snape

Departmental spending growth is slowing amid pressures on budgets and new spending ambitions. We assess the Chancellor’s choices at this Budget.

At his first Budget, the Chancellor faces an uncertain outlook for the economy, and added pressures on public spending from higher inflation.

A manifesto pledging a bigger welfare state with or without independence, but which fails to properly confront the fiscal implications of its plans

A manifesto with big tax and bigger spending increases – and a mixed bag of tax reforms.

Welsh health and education services are performing worse than before the pandemic and lag behind England

Welsh health and education systems are underperforming – with cuts to spending on some public services likely post-election.

Five years on from COVID, Scotland's public services are still struggling to recover

Scottish public services are struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and cuts to some services loom.

Education spending in England is at a crossroads: tight budgets, escalating pressures, and shifting demographics.

This annual report compares spending across different stages of education in England and analyses the pressures and choices facing policymakers.

How will changes announced at Budget 2025 affect SEND spending in future? How can the government deal with historic deficits accumulated by councils?

The Chancellor's second Budget will be a tricky one. The fiscal outlook has deteriorated, raising the prospect of spending cuts or further tax rises. 

This online event presented new analysis on the growth in support for SEN and disability living allowance.

The share of children receiving SEND support has nearly doubled in a decade, with spending set to reach £21 billion by 2029

How do trends, demographics and outcomes of children receiving support for health conditions compare across the benefits and education systems?

What are the challenges facing the special educational needs system in England, and how can the government could reform the system?

The upcoming Spending Review is likely to involve cuts to many public service budgets. 

This report sets out the context of and choices facing the government on schools and colleges in England ahead of the 2025 Spending Review.

This report analyses the Scottish Government’s Budget for 2025–26, with chapters on tax strategy, school spending, public sector pay and more.

By 2040, the number of pupils in Scotland is projected to be 90,000 lower than in 2024. Policymakers face a major choice over how to respond.