The TUC is calling for the regions of the UK to be given a big spending increase in this month’s spending review.It is calling for the English regions to be given an extra 375 million pounds in what would be a 25 per cent increase on the current budgets of the regional development agencies (RDAs). It also wants 65 million extra for the Scottish Parliament, 30 million for the Welsh Assembly and 30 million for Northern Ireland.

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The Government has published proposals for altering the formula by which it awards grant to local councils.The annual grant to local councils is core to their operation, and makes up 85 per cent of the money they receive from the national pot. Yet the current formula (the Standard Spending Assessment system) for deciding how much councils get has fallen into disrepute with many councils.

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