Last updated: 01 October 2015
This section of the website provides an introduction to public spending in the UK. Follow the links below to learn more about:
Overview of public spending
- Trends in total public spending over time
- UK public spending compared with other countries
- The composition of public spending
Current issues in public spending
Long-run trends in areas of public spending
- Social security
- Health
- Education
- Defence
- Public order and safety
- Transport
- Official development assistance
- Debt interest payments
Definitions and planning public spending
- How and when is spending allocated?
- A short history of the methods used to plan public spending in the UK
Other useful resources
- A compilation of recent IFS research relating to public spending
- Public spending page of the IFS 2015 general election website
- This information and more (last updated August 2014) available in pdf form as a briefing note
- For the latest figures on departmental spending plans, see HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2015
- A list of the major government departments, along with their functions
- The Institute for Government's Whitehall Monitor
For further information on public spending in the UK, contact Rowena Crawford.