The Chancellor has pledged to halve the budget deficit by 2014. But serious doubts remain about the specific cuts that will be required to achieve this, not least because the government is continuing to announce new spending commitments.
As part of our programme of work focusing on the need to restore credibility to the UK public finances we are monitoring and recording the Government's announcements of new public spending initiatives.
We will be collecting and publishing a rolling list of these announcements on the CPS website and invite readers to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with examples you think we may have missed.
Government spending announcements since 1 January 2010: £3883 million*
4 January
New 3rs guarantee and support for pupils falling behind (DCSF)
£50m over two years to deliver guaranteed catch-up support for pupils falling behind in early years.
5 January
£12.5 million extra help for childcare for disabled children (DCSF)
Parents with disabled children will now get better support to help with childcare following a £12.5 million cash boost from the Government, Ed Balls and Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo announced today as they also called on local authorities to do more to help disabled children access childcare.
Over 53,000 free books for schools in bid to get young people hooked on reading (DCSF)
Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Schools Minister Iain Wright today urged children and young people to make a New Year's resolution to read more as a hobby in 2010 - as they launch a £500,000 campaign to provide over 53,000 free books for secondary schools.
11 January
Free laptops and broadband for 270,000 families across the country in ground-breaking scheme (DCSF)
The Prime Minister and Ed Balls announce the national roll out of a £300 million scheme to give 270,000 low income families a free computer and free broadband access.
21 January
Disadvantaged communities to get more support (DCSF)
The Prime Minister and Children and Families Minister Dawn Primarolo today announced a further 88 new Family Intervention Projects (FIPs) across the country and a further £2.6m of funding for local authorities to start or expand FIPs in their region.
National Challenge maintains mission for improvement (DCSF)Schools Minister Vernon Coaker today announced over £1.8m to implement school improvement plans in two National Challenge Trust schools in Sandwell and one National Challenge Federation in Lincolnshire.
9 February
New "stepping-stone" learning to help thousands of pupils (DCSF)
More than 30,000 pupils aged 14 and 15 who need extra time and support to reach GCSEs, Diplomas or Apprenticeships are to benefit from personalised help after the Government announced a £20m investment in new Foundation Learning, a key part of the 14-19 reforms
Extra money to help secure progress at Westborough High School, Dewsbury (DCSF)
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has today announced £674,000 to help secure progress at Westborough High School in Dewsbury.
Extra money to help secure progress at Sinfin Community School, Derby (DCSF)
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has today announced £369,000 to help secure progress at Sinfin Community School in Derby.
2 March
More support and new centre for children who stammer (DCSF)
A further £500,000 was today announced by Schools Secretary, Ed Balls to help fund a new centre which will provide early intervention and support for children and young people who stammer.
Primary teachers + intensive maths training = world class maths pupils (DCSF)
Schools Minister announces £11.8m for over 1,500 new maths specialist primary teachers
Extra money to help secure progress at ten schools (DCSF)
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has today announced nearly £7 million of extra funding to help secure progress at ten schools across the country.
£418.3m for six new BSF projects as once-in-generation project continues to accelerate (DCSF)
Buckinghamshire; Cornwall; Gateshead; Lincolnshire; Oxfordshire and Sutton get green-light for latest round of BSF projects
17 March
A new 'Local Social Work Improvement Fund' of £23m will provide flexible funds to help reduce pressure on front line social workers. There will also be a grant of £15m to continue to improve IT systems in local areas. Local Authorities will be expected to consult with social workers and local partners to decide how to use the additional money.
26 March
£5.5 million boost for holiday childcare
Extra childcare help for families during the summer holidays was today announced by Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo.
11 February
Midlands to Drive Forward Low Carbon Economic Area for Advanced Automotive Engineering (DBIS)
The Midlands has been designated a new Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) and has won £19million of government funding for research into and development of low carbon vehicles, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, announced today.
18 February
Boost for Corus Apprentices and Business Start Ups in the Tees Valley (DBIS)
While on a visit to the Teesside Cast Products plant the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced funding totalling £3.8 million for apprentices at Corus and businesses in the Tees Valley.
22 February
£200m Boost for Future Technology Sectors (DBIS)
The Prime Minister announced today that £200m from the UK Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF) will be used to benefit life sciences, digital and advanced manufacturing businesses
23 February
Government announces investment package for regional development (DBIS)
The Government underlined its commitment to economic development across the English regions today with a £64.4million package of new investment announced by Lord Mandelson.
Extra funding announced for consumer protection at ports (DBIS)
Consumer minister Kevin Brennan has today announced £300,000 of extra funding to help stop dangerous and unsafe products finding their way into British shops
An extra £270 million is being allocated to universities and colleges in 2010/11 to support more students going into higher education next year, and help institutions become more efficient, Lord Mandelson announced today.
Small firms given a major boost by Budget growth plans
A new University Enterprise Capital Fund of up to £37.5 million, including up to £25 million investment from Government, to provide early stage funding for the commercialisation of promising university innovations. A further £20 million will be invested in the Small Business Research Initiative, to offer innovative small businesses opportunities to win contracts to develop and bring to market technology-based solutions to meet future public sector and societal needs. This is in addition to £1.1 billion of Government-committed money for UK Finance for Growth Limited.
Mandelson announces new postgraduate scholarships
The Government is investing £2.5 million in the UK’s first Scholarship scheme designed to target, recruit and retain the world’s best research students Lord Mandelson announced today.
25 March
Government announces £250m support for new centre for medical innovation; sets out priorities for strengthening british industry
The Prime Minister and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today announced £250 million investment in 2010/11 for a new world-class medical research centre at St Pancras in London, bringing together research teams to tackle major medical challenges.
£30 million institute for Web Science will lead the way in Web 3.0
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that £30 million would be set aside to create the Institute for Web Science. It will be headed by Sir Tim Berners Lee, the British inventor of the World Wide Web, and leading Web Science expert Professor Nigel Shadbolt.
30 March
Government awards £100m to jewel in UK science crown
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced the allocation of £97.4 million to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for Diamond’s Phase III development at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
31 March
Government invests £5m in infrastructure for marine energy
The Government today announced a grant of up to £5m to support the continued development of marine energy in the UK. The grant will support the development of a Marine Renewables Business Park at Hayle, in the South West.
11 February
Healey doubles council house-building cash (DCLG)
Local government minister John Healey announced an "extra £122.6 million" for council house building.
13 January
Millions invested to create new wave of silver surfers (DCLG)
Nearly 20,000 people living in sheltered housing will be switched on to the internet under £2.9m plans being developed by the Government to boost the number of silver surfers, Communities Minister Lord McKenzie and Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society Angela Eagle announced today.
8 February
John Healey: Over £60m to lay green foundations of eco-towns (DCLG)
Housing Minister John Healey has today backed the country's biggest ever green home building programme, with four areas sharing £60m cash to build over 600 new homes to the toughest ever environmental standards.
Healey: £83 million backing for first time buyers and housebuilding jobs (DCLG)
Housing Minister John Healey has today announced £83 million to get building over 5,700 new and affordable homes stalled by the recession back on track.
15 March
John Denham: £50 million to help councils with economic recovery (DCLG)
An extra £50m is being given to councils to help them make big strides toward economic recovery in their local area, announced Communities Secretary John Denham today.
More student grants to train the next generation of planners (DCLG)
More students will be able to take up careers in town planning and help bridge the skills gap after Planning Minister John Healey confirmed an additional £1.8m to fund student bursaries for postgraduate training at 16 Universities.
16 March
John Healey extends Government help to keep repossession as a last resort (DCLG)
Housing Minister John Healey has today announced he will be extending a Government campaign across the country with a special local push in 86 repossession "hotspot areas", and an extra £2.5million funding to ensure struggling homeowners get the help they need to avoid repossession.
17 March
John Denham announces £1million fund to help faith groups have their voices heard (DCLG)
Communities Secretary John Denham today unveiled a £1m fund to help faith groups get their voices heard by Government and public bodies and help play their part delivering public services.
Big boost for creative and cultural sectors with new state-of-the-art training facilities
Funding has been confirmed for a £13 million skills academy skill that will train thousands of people for the theatre industry and provide hundreds of jobs, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik announced today.
19 March
Healey: Practical help served up for struggling pubs
Pubs Minister John Healey today announced a 12 point action plan to give practical support to community pubs up and down the country, backed by £4million in government funding.
25 March
Denham – New support for seaside success
A new strategy to help all seaside towns flourish by restoring iconic piers, creating new jobs, and improving local housing was announced today by Communities Secretary John Denham. Strategy for Seaside Success; securing the future of seaside economies, includes a new £5 million fund for 25 priority areas to create jobs, support business and improve skills of the long term unemployed.
30 March
John Denham - £23m boost drives North Kent network forward
A further £23m investment to improve the crucial North Kent road network was announced today by Communities Secretary John Denham.
31 March
More than £165m to support home adaptations for disabled people
Communities Minister Lord McKenzie has today granted over £165m to help local councils pay for adaptations that will enable disabled people to live comfortably and independently in their own homes.
A pot of £280million is being given to councils today so they can continue to improve services from crucial skills and jobs programmes to arts facilities for young people to town centre regeneration projects, announced Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton today.
John Healey: Power of Government investment is keeping Britain building
Today, Housing Minister John Healey announced a total of £263 million additional funding for new affordable homes and to kickstart stalled developments, and announced that three new publicly-owned sites are to be made available for housebuilding under the Public Land Initiative.
25 January
Cash bonus to give young jobless a start in social care (Health)
Employers across Britain will get £1,000 for taking on a young person who is struggling to find work... Care First Careers is part of the Government's young person's guarantee that everyone between the ages of 18 and 24 who has been looking for work for six months will get a job offer, work experience or training. It makes £75million available to fund up to 50,000 jobs.
26 January
Funding boost to get kids walking to school (Health)
A scheme that encourages families to ditch the car and walk their children to school at least once a week will receive an £800,000 boost from the Government, Public Health Minister Gillian Merron will announce today.
8 March
£8million regional campaign to help catch cancer early (DoH)
Local NHS organisations will receive £8 million to fund campaigns that improve early diagnosis of cancer, Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.
22 March
Up to £10 million of funding to research the affects of acute trauma, particularly for military personnel was announced today by Health Minister Mike O’Brien.
8 February
£4.6m Government funding to pay for vital road bridge (DFT)
The people of Cumbria are to benefit from £4.6 million of Government funding to pay for a road bridge over the River Derwent Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced in Workington today.
11 February
£620 Million government funding for councils to improve street lighting (DFT)
Seven local authorities in England will benefit from a total of £620 million of Government funding to install improved street lighting, Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced today.
25 March
£15M to kickstart bus services
Bus services across England are set for a major boost after Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced £15m of Kickstart grants.
£30 Million boost for low carbon transport
Low carbon buses and fuel generated from everyday waste are at the centre of a £30 million Government fund to help reduce emissions from transport.
8 March
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Culture Minister Margaret Hodge today announced a two-year grants programme to provide at least 40 internships with established arts companies for graduates from low-income backgrounds
19 March
Margaret Hodge announces £550,000 grant to help Chatham Historic Dockyard enrich visitor experience
Culture and Tourism Minister Margaret Hodge today announced a grant of £550,000 to the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust to help it realise exciting plans to enhance the experience of visitors to the 80 acre site in Kent.
25 March
Ben Bradshaw announces £250,000 funding for improvements and development of world-famous Bletchley Park museum
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw today announced £250,000 funding for Bletchley Park museum. Located on the site of the secret British WWII code-breaking HQ, the museum will use the money to help maintain and repair buildings, and enhance the experience for the 100,000 people who now visit each year.
17 March
More funding to tackle knife crime and serious youth violence
More than £5 million has been pledged to tackle knife crime and serious youth violence from April 2010 as the Tackling Knives and Serious Youth Violence Action Programme (TKAP) is extended for another year, Home Office Minister David Hanson MP announced today.
31 March
New support for victims of hate crime
Victims of hate crime and their families will soon benefit from more than £265,000 to provide increased access to vital support services, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell announced today.
* This initial list is not fully comprehensive but is based on press releases from a number of the larger Government departments where specific spending announcements have been made since the start of the year.