On Wednesday afternoon, the Labour chancellor stood before MPs in parliament and announced plans to end asylum hotels by 2029, increase the bus fare cap until at least 2027, and provide a £39million cash injection into a new affordable homes programme.
The government also announced plans to invest £2billion in an “AI Action Plan”, with Rachel Reeves hailing the spending review as “investing in Britain’s renewal.”
Commenting on the spending review, Paul Woodman, founder of Clear Project, a charity that has supported refugees and asylum seekers in Southampton for more than 20 years, said ending the use of asylum hotels was a “crucial goal.”
He added: “They’re expensive and completely unsuitable for long-term accommodation, but that shift must come alongside proper housing solutions and faster decision-making. People need dignity and stability, not delays and uncertainty.”
The Society of St James, which is based in Southampton, also supported the government’s plans to introduce new and affordable housing across the country.
READ MORE: Key points from Rachel Reeves’ spending review
Chief executive of the charity, Tania Marsh, said: “This has been such an important day in the move towards a longer-term strategy to end homelessness and we at the Society of St James are very pleased that we have seen real investment in housing in today’s spending review.”
Ross McNally, chief executive and executive chairman of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “We would have liked to see much more government support announced to open up supply chain opportunities and enable our SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to win procurement contracts.
“That remains a major challenge for many. At the same time, we are looking at a reduced budget at the Department for Business and Trade over the next three years, which is not good news.”
Elsewhere, HJS Technology, a Southampton-based firm that specialises in IT solutions, said it was “encouraged by the government’s commitment of £2billion to the AI Action Plan.”
In a statement, a company spokesperson added: “For a company like HJS Technology, which supports businesses across the South of England, this investment not only highlights the growing significance of AI in the digital landscape but also presents an opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure and skills needed to grow AI innovation within the UK.”
