Join us to watch George Osborne's Autumn Statement here

[KateMumsnet]

Hello all

George Osborne will set out the government's spending plans in the Autumn Statement and Spending Review at 12.30pm today. It's the first since the Conservatives were elected, and Osbourne looks set to announce the detail of £20bn of cuts to departmental budgets, and £12bn cuts to welfare. He'll promise £7bn for new housebuilding, and will also announce plans to mitigate the effects of tax credit cuts, after the government's original measures were blocked by the House of Lords last month.

Let us know what you think of the plans here, and do join us for the Statement itself at 12.30pm to watch live - we'll be embedding a live feed from the BBC at about 11.45am.

More money to let people buy their homes. Of course, that's not much help to the homeless, now, is it? And giving more loans to people in London to buy homes. Helping the better off again. Just more of the same old thing. Lies and misrepresentation. Sickening.

I turned off the live feed. Couldn't listen any more. He just irritates me, going on about how wonderful they are. I was disgusted the moment he said child poverty was down. Bollocks to that. They "redefined" it so they could say that.

That's disgusting lies about Andy Burnham.

McDonnell made good points.

What was said about Andy Burnham? I can't listen to GO!

But if Min wage increases won't tax credits be reduced anyway by default?

So the 3% extra stamp duty for second homes is going to be hard to police and on buy to lets. Someone might buy and then have to move for work a month later - presumably that wouldn't be higher rate stamp duty or husband might own house and they buy the second home in the wife's name so they have one house each?

This is sensible
Insurance

3.103 Motor insurance – The government will bring forward measures to reduce the excessive costs arising from unnecessary whiplash claims, and expects average savings of £40 to £50 per motor insurance policy to be passed onto customers, including by:
removing the right to general damages for minor soft tissue injuries••
removing legal costs by transferring personal injury claims of up to £5,000 to the small claims court (13)

Am so glad he's scrapped the plan to cut WTC - it was a ridiculous and chronically unfair proposal.

Future cuts to WTC should be phased in as Personal tax allowance is increased along with NLW, IMHO.

For myself I'm relieved there's to be no imminent change to child tax credits

As someone involved in the early years and childcare sector I'm concerned at the measure to limit the 30 hrs of free early years provision for 3 and 4 yr olds to parents working more than 16hrs per week. Does this mean both parents have to work over 16 hrs to qualify for funding? Many mothers (in particular) of 3 and 4 yr olds have not been able to find employment opportunities which they can balance with their parenting responsibilities and so have not yet returned to employment. They will not suddenly be able to do so without more support, including affordable childcare, and flexible employment opportunities.

If the early years provision is provided first many more women will be able to give the time and energy required such as for training and job seeking that is needed for them to return to employment after a career break caring for their young children.

I'm also interested in opportunities for courses at FE colleges to be eligible for course fee and maintainance loans as I am interested in undertaking further training at my local FE college

I am concerned for a generation of children only having full time home care by a parent until aged 3, because there is free childcare, so why are you a SAHP, social pressure.

Sorry, don't quite understand your question howto - are you asking me?

Personally I think many children can benefit from early years provision howto, but possibly 15 hrs a week (ie mornings or afternoons) from 3 yrs is ideal. 30 hrs is OK too for many.

I presume Juggling that the 16 hr rule is to ensure free childcare goes to those who need it rather than those would like it.

How many times do I read on here that parents would work more than 16 hours if childcare costs made it worthwhile.

I don't understand your comment either Howtorebuild

I think she was saying that universal free childcare in some ways undermines the right for parents to SAHP?

I noticed that it's suddenly being referred to as the 30 free hours childcare subsidy.
Slip of the tongue?

Think is sonnet it's not just free childcare for the parent it's also early years education for the child. I think some provision should be available for all 3 and 4 year olds, not just for some.

I also think this is a way the government can make substantial cuts whilst hoping to seem reasonable to those who don't think through all the issues.

If it means fewer children will receive an early years education in this country then that is a major issue which needs flagging up

Thing is .....

It's no longer defined as Early Years education - they changed it to "childcare" some time ago.

The hourly rate for the funding has been set at £4.88 for 3/4 year olds.
2 year old funding is set at £5.39.

Does anyone know when these come into effect, particularly cuts to housing benefit for new claimants?

Cutting student Nurse Bursaries is a fabulous way to get more nurses in to the NHS

"It's no longer defined as early years education - they changed it to "childcare" some time ago" Tanith

Well provision for 2,3 and 4 yr olds (possibly younger too) still has to provide evidence it is meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and is still inspected by Ofsted - so sounds like an early years education to me.

Also George Osborne included figures for early years/childcare provision in his figure of 10 billion? for education "from cradle to further education"