UK targets £8 billion in extra health research, education spend

British finance minister Rishi Sunak plans a £5 billion  ($6.9 billion) programme to fund health research and £3 billion of extra funding for further education in next week’s budget, officials said.

The announcements, which include a raft of smaller spending decisions, follows news of £6.9 billion for regional transport projects ahead of a major review of government spending over the next three years. The news of investment comes as the government seeks to boost living standards outside London through its ‘levelling-up’ agenda.