THE Chancellor handed out what appeared to be some early Christmas presents in his Autumn Statement yesterday.

The headlines of the Comprehensive Spending Review included a promise not to make any further cuts to police budgets and a u-turn on cuts to tax credits.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, welcomed the news in regards to police funding.

It followed lobbying by Mr Underhill and other PCCs across the country.

Mr Underhill said: “The public voice was strong around public protection and all credit to the Government for listening. However, the devil is in the detail and we await the outcome of our local settlement in December. On the surface, this is what I have been fighting for and I am delighted. Policing needs investment and protection, not cuts.”

Dorset’s Chief Constable, Debbie Simpson, added: “A static policing budget until 2020 is welcome news. It means we would be able to continue building a prudent, modern and demand-led approach to policing, without having to consider more drastic options that may have impacted on our service to local people. However, we must await the exact budget settlement for each force being released in mid-December before we have the full picture.”

George Osborne also announced 10,000 new nursing training places, an increase in the NHS budget to £120bn by 2020/21 and an extra £600m for mental health.

Councils will also be able to levy two per cent on council tax for social care, pumping an extra £2bn into the care system.

But critics said some announcements were simply plugging gaps already created by the Chancellor.

Elizabeth Purcell, CEO of Lewis-Manning Hospice in Poole, said: “We are obviously pleased that support for the NHS will rise by 20 per cent over the next 20 years, but there is some disappointment that there was no specific mention for end of life, palliative or hospice care, which is mainly provided by the voluntary sector who continue to find the economic climate difficult to raise funds in.”

She added: “Lewis-Manning welcomes the increase in social care spending and the focus on health and social care working together to provide a seamless service for the elderly, frail and those living with life limiting illnesses.”

Dot Gibson, general secretary of the National Pensioners' Convention, said: ''The social care system has suffered £4.6 billion worth of cuts since 2010, and the Chancellor's plan to allow local councils to raise additional spending will be nowhere near enough to address the problem.”

Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, welcomed a promise of fairer funding for schools, which will see cash based on pupil characteristics, not historic political calculations.

Mr Drax said: “It also took no account of the sparsity of pupils in more rural areas. I am delighted that this manifestly unfair situation is about to change.”

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Britons would feel ''betrayed'' as Mr Osborne failed on his promises made five years ago.

BLOB

See all of the measures at-a-glance at bournemouthecho.co.uk