The government must move quickly to publish and implement an ambitious industrial strategy and invest in skills

Responding to today’s publication of the government’s Spending Review, Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“This increased capital investment in areas like energy, defence, and housing is an important step change, along with maintaining R&D spending, in supporting the areas of the economy that can fuel the growth of tomorrow. The government must move quickly to publish and implement an ambitious industrial strategy and make sure that the skills system gets the urgent attention it needs to make sure workers will see the benefits.

“While this investment is welcome, the government’s real terms cuts to day-to-day spending in some unprotected departments are worrying and could have a real impact on the government’s ability to deliver on its missions.

“The government will need to articulate much better what it wants the civil service to stop doing, given many essential government agencies are already facing recruitment and retention crises, particularly for specialist digital, scientific and technical staff.

“Only by investing in the skills it needs will it be able to achieve its objectives and undo the damage of the last 15 years.”