Chancellor's autumn statement 2015

No cuts to the police is good.

Very good about the tax credits cuts. What a U turn.

But mental health services are struggling now and the promise is by 2020

Basic state pension to rise. Not by much but still. Also £600m to be spend on mental health which is very welcome with regards to my family.

No tax credit cuts

In rental terms, "affordable housing" is defined as 80% of the open market rent.

This quote is from an article in the Independent two years ago. Yes, the figures quoted will have changed in that time, but the general idea remains the same:

The lowest average rents in London have been identified as being in the borough of Bexley, where they have just passed the £1,000 per month mark. In Kensington they are well over £5,000 per month and the all-London average is nearly £2,000 per month. The Government’s definition suggests that the average Londoner can “afford” to pay over £400 a week in rent.

That's why my blood boils every time I hear politicians boasting about providing more of the very badly-named "affordable" housing, as if that will solve the housing problems for low-paid people, and almost as a justification for further penalising those in need of housing benefit in order to keep a roof over their heads!

It isn't clear that it will work anyway. Lack of trained employees and developers unwilling to expand house building will be a potential problem.

£450,000 an "affordable" house in London? I live in London and could not afford to pay that even after selling my present house.

Buy a house ? If on the minimum wage , how? If on zero contracts, how? if disabled, how?

Looks like he may be cutting public health - most of it is prevention.

Increasing numbers of elderly people don't have family living near.

If George cuts social care budgets (already cut by 25%) then all the money given to the NHS will be wasted as more older people will fall, deteriorate and suffer more isolation and depression, and end up in A & E. Unpaid Carers (family members) will also have to bear the brunt of the cuts which impact on their health and wellbeing, and means that they have to give up work for a life on a meagre income - eroding their savings for their old age. If we have to care for our elders more - then who is there to look after the grandchildren while our adult children work?

Wake up George - its not rocket science - investment in social care and the third sector means more prevention - which is what you have pledged to do - less hospital admissions which means that very costly hospital beds are not used in favour of more effective (and cheaper) options such as supported care at home - which is what most people want anyway.

We "sandwich" carers, caring across the generations have a lot to fear from this man who has no vision.

Cuts to the care budget to make up for the extra spend on the tax credits.

Elderly better look to their laurels!! Not sure how we can make provision though. Anyone got any ideas?