The UK Spring Budget 2021, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 3 March 2021, included a range of measures to support families and businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the measures was support for childcare costs and energy bills, but there was no mention of housing.
The Budget included a £1 billion package to help families with childcare costs. This includes an additional £1,000 for every child aged 5-11 in England who is eligible for free school meals, and an additional £500 for every child aged 5-16 in England who is eligible for free school meals. This will be paid directly to parents in the form of vouchers. The Budget also included an additional £210 million for the Early Years Pupil Premium, which will provide extra funding for disadvantaged children in England aged 3-4.
In addition, the Budget included a £5 billion package to help households with their energy bills. This includes a £1.3 billion energy efficiency scheme to help low-income households make their homes more energy efficient. It also includes a £1.3 billion Green Homes Grant scheme to help households pay for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation and double glazing.
However, the Budget did not include any measures to address the housing crisis in the UK. This is despite the fact that housing costs are a major burden for many families, and there is an urgent need for more affordable housing.
Overall, the UK Spring Budget 2021 included measures to support families with childcare costs and energy bills, but it failed to address the housing crisis. This is a missed opportunity to help those struggling with high housing costs, and it is hoped that future Budgets will include measures to tackle this issue.