Headway UK responds to Chancellor’s limited Spring Statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke to MPs in the House of Commons, outlining key economic forecasts for the year ahead.

Her statement was a relatively low-key affair with no major announcements of tax or spending changes.

This follows last year’s Spring Statement where the Chancellor announced significant cuts to welfare spending, including Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The Government has since backed away from this, instead announcing ongoing consultation work with stakeholders.

Due to the low-key nature of the statement, there were unfortunately no announcements on much-needed investment in community-based rehabilitation services provided by local Headway charities.

However, the Government stated that an expected fall in spending on government debt interest will enable more spending on services such as the NHS.

The Statement comes ahead of the UK Government’s proposed Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan, which has been delayed. Publication is now planned by the end of June.

We are working alongside the Department of Health and Social Care, pushing for this to deliver meaningful change.

Health Minister resigns

Separately, the Department of Health and Social Care minister responsible for ABI has stepped down from government. Ashley Dalton MP, who has advanced stage cancer, wrote to the Prime Minister on Monday, saying that she will focus on her treatment while supporting her constituents from the backbenches. We thank her for her service while serving as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention.

Headway Parliamentary Champion, and supporter of Headway Wearside, Sharon Hodgson MP has since been announced as the new minister responsible for acquired brain injury. Headway UK Chief Executive Luke Griggs has welcomed her to her government role.

We look forward to working with Minister Hodgson to ensure the ABI Action Plan delivers meaningful change for brain injury services and the network of Headway charities and volunteer-led branches.