Reeves's £86bn boost for science in spending review

Rachel Reeves is set to unveil an £86bn package for science and technology in next week's spending review, ministers have announced, as several department brace for a swathe of spending cuts.

- MILLIE COOKE

Regions will be handed up to £500m with local leaders given powers to decide how investment is targeted in their communities, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said today.

The overall package, which will be announced as the chancellor sets out departmental spending plans on 11 June, is expected to be worth more than £22.5bn-a-year by the end of the decade, the government said.

Ms Reeves is expected to unveil a swathe of spending cuts as she attempts to walk the tightrope between delivering on the party’s election promises while sticking within the bounds of her selfimposed fiscal rules.

But DSIT said “every corner of the country” would benefit from the package as local leaders will be given a say on how the money is spent on leveraging expertise specific to their communities.