Tag: sector-cuts

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Partial U-turn over bedroom tax announced by Iain Duncan Smith

By Sharon Black

Pressure prompts work and pensions secretary to exempt foster carers and armed forces personnel from controversial tax The work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has announced a partial U-turn on the government’s controversial bedroom tax, exempting foster carers and armed forces personnel who live at home. The concessions were announced in a written ministerial statement after weeks of growing political pressure over the policy.

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Defence secretary: I will resist further cuts

By Sharon Black

Philip Hammond says defending country should be first priority and that savings should be made from benefits bill first The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, has warned that he will resist further cuts to the armed forces in George Osborne’s forthcoming spending review. He told the Daily Telegraph that other Tory cabinet ministers believed the greatest burden of any cuts should fall on the welfare budget.