UK announces five billion pound emergency response fund for coronavirus
In his first annual budget statement to parliament, Sunak said he would go “further if necessary”
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak poses with the red budget box outside his office in Downing Street in London, Britain March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday he would set aside 5 billion pounds to help Britain's National Health Service and other public services tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
In his first annual budget statement to parliament, Sunak said he would go "further if necessary".
In September, the government said it would raise spending on the NHS in England by 3 percent more than inflation in 2020/21 to 129.9 billion pounds, excluding longer-term investment.
The government also said annual NHS spending in 2023/24 would be 33.9 billion pounds higher than in 2018/19.
