NEW chancellor Rishi Sunak said he will give the NHS “whatever it needs” to cope with the coronavirus outbreak ahead of this week’s Budget.
Sunak will deliver his first spending plan on Wednesday.
Yesterday he said he will help the NHS as fears about the long-term impact of Covid-19 continue.
Appearing on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, he said: “I can take whatever steps are necessary to help us get through this because of those decisions we made in the past, and I think that is just a helpful reminder about the importance of responsible economic management.
“The economy is in a good place, we will get through this.”
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The NHS pledge came as Nicola Sturgeon said coronavirus made it “inevitable” that the health service would need more funds.
There have been 18 positive cases of the illness in Scotland so far, with 273 in the UK as a whole.
Sturgeon said: “I think it’s pretty much inevitable that we will need additional resources for our National Health Service, although we are right now working within the resources that are available to the health service.
“Scotland has just passed its Budget for the year ahead which in itself delivers record funding for the National Health Service.
“But the pressures that are likely to come from coronavirus in the weeks ahead will mean we need to see additional resources, so I very much hope the Budget has positive things to say about that.”
The First Minister also hoped there would be a “relaxation” of the rules of Universal Credit – the UK Government’s controversial social security programme, which carries a lengthy wait for initial payments – which would ensure users are not sanctioned if they are forced to self-isolate.
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She said: “We don’t want people who have been advised to self-isolate to minimise the risk of passing the infection on to others to be sanctioned on their benefits.
“There’s so much to do, all of the governments across the UK are working very closely and very constructively together, as people have a right to expect.”
Speaking on the same programme before the First Minister, the Chancellor said he is “absolutely” ready to provide more funding for the NHS.
Sunak said: “We’ve already deployed extra funding for the NHS, both for vaccine development and immediate response, so that’s already happened.
“It’s important to remember that we’re able to do that because we’re in a strong position today. It’s because of responsible management of public finances in the past several years that I can sit here and tell you, yes, I can take whatever steps are necessary to help us get through this.”
In a busy weekend for Sunak, he also appeared on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, where he admitted the impact of the virus on business “could be significant, but for a temporary period of time”.
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He stated: “I can say absolutely, categorically, the NHS will get whatever resources it needs to get us through this crisis.”
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called on the Treasury to cut tax rates for tourism firms to insulate them from the reduced travel caused by the coronavirus.
The call comes after operator Flybe collapsed this week, linking a drop in demand to the outbreak.
Blackford told the Herald on Sunday: “Over the coming days and weeks, our tourism and hospitality sector is facing a difficult climate with reduced customers because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“I am calling on the UK Government to set out a package of measures to assist these businesses during this time, as well as action from the banks to help mitigate the economic impact.
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“This is about reducing the cost of current business activities – orders, supplies and bookings – while these businesses see a temporary drop in tourist numbers as people follow public health guidelines.”
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Sunak suggested his financial plan would focus on “economic security” during “a difficult period”.
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