Deaf charities respond to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement (BSL)

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Deaf charities have given their reaction to the UK Government’s Autumn Statement, branding Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s economic plan as “positive” and “a step in the right direction”.

Taking to the dispatch box in the Commons just short of two months after predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng announced his controversial “growth plan”, the former health secretary detailed proposals to “tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy”.

He told MPs on Thursday: “Our priorities are stability, growth, and public services.

“We also protect the vulnerable because to be British is to be compassionate and this is a compassionate government.

“We are not alone facing these problems but today our plan reflects British values as we respond to an international crisis.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer went on to reveal that while the UK’s inflation rate is forecast to fall from 9.1% this year to 7.4% next year, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility has also judged the country to be in a recession.

🔴 Chancellor of the Exchequer @Jeremy_Hunt is now giving the Autumn Statement

Watch live ⬇️ https://t.co/6BYgijkdfh

— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) November 17, 2022

On tax, Mr Hunt announced the income tax threshold for the 45p rate would be lowered from £150,000 to £125,140, and the ‘windfall tax’ on energy companies’ profits will increase from 25% to 35% from January until March 2028.

Confirming the government would grow public spending, but at a slower rate than the growth of the economy, Mr Hunt said £2.3 billion would be spent per year on schools for 2023 and 2024, and £8 billion on health and social care.

This would comprise an extra £3.3 billion boost for the NHS in each of the next two years, while social care will see a funding increase of up to £2.8 billion in 2023 and £4.7 billion the year after.

“How we look after our most vulnerable citizens is not just a practical issue but speaks to our values as a society, so today’s increase in funding will allow the social care system to help deliver an estimated 200,000 more care packages over the next two years, the biggest increase under any government of any colour in history,” Mr Hunt said.

On energy, the chancellor confirmed the government’s Energy Price Guarantee – which caps how much energy suppliers can charge for a single unit of gas and electricity – would continue for another 12 months from April 2023, but at a higher level of £3,000.

It means the average household will have their annual energy bill priced at £3,000, compared to the £2,500 the guarantee is at currently.

Individuals on disability benefits will receive an additional cost-of-living payment of £150 next year, and will also see their benefits increased in line with inflation by 10.1%.

The £11 billion government commitment will see a family on Universal Credit benefitting, on average, by around £600 next year, Mr Hunt said.

Today’s budget is a step in the right direction – but we will need to see the detail on what this means for deaf children.

Read our full statement on the #AutumnStatement from Ian Noon, our Chief Policy Advisor. 🧵 (1/6) https://t.co/uTMq8v2Ijt

— NDCS (@NDCS_UK) November 17, 2022

 

Commenting on the chancellor’s education funding proposals, the National Deaf Children’s Society’s chief policy advisor Ian Noon said: “At a time when vital specialist education services for deaf children are under great pressure, today’s announcement of an increase in the education budget is a step in the right direction, but parents of deaf children will need to see the detail on what this will mean for their children.

“After a decade in which the number of Teachers of the Deaf has plummeted by nearly 1 in 5, many will remain sceptical about what the next few years will hold, and how this funding will help.

“Deaf children are among the most disadvantaged groups of children in society today – with too many not getting the support they need and too many leaving school without good outcomes.

“We now need to see the Government’s commitment reflected in reality, so that every deaf child has the hope of a better future.”

We welcome the news from today's #AutumnStatement that benefits will rise in line with inflation, but we need to do a lot more to make sure disabled people and their families are supported through this #CostOfLivingCrisis. (1/5)

— Sense (@sensecharity) November 17, 2022

Meanwhile Sense, a charity which supports deafblind people and those with complex disabilities, tweeted: “We welcome the news from today’s Autumn Statement that benefits will rise in line with inflation, but we need to do a lot more to make sure disabled people and their families are supported through this cost-of-living crisis.

“The increase in benefits will be long overdue, and cost of living payments will certainly help ease some of the more immediate pressures. However, we need a long-term plan to support disabled households with spiralling energy prices.”

The organisation went on to cite its research which found almost three in four disabled households say they are currently in debt, saying “short-term fixes” and increasing benefits to “where they already should have been” is not enough.

They continued: “Additional funding for social care is always welcome, but today’s announcement falls short of what providers need to be able to offer the right support.

“Working-age disabled adults make up a third of adult social care users, accounting for half of local authority spending.

“We’re continuing to call for long-term, targeted support for disabled people and their families, and social energy tariffs to make sure they are protected through the #CostOfLivingCrisis and beyond.”

It's positive that disability benefits will increase by 10.1%. It should have happened now not next April. The govt must provide long term cost of living support for disabled people. The winter months will be really painful. Without the benefit increase it would have catastrophic

— Richard Kramer 🇺🇦 (@RichardKSense) November 17, 2022

Its chief executive, Richard Kramer, added the 10.1% increase in disability benefits is “positive”, but that it “should have happened now, not next April”.

“The government must provide long-term cost-of-living support for disabled people.

“The winter months will be really painful. Without the benefit increase it would have catastrophic,” he said.

The full speech and the subsequent debate is available to watch with British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation on ParliamentLive.TV.

Photo: HM Treasury/Flickr.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.