Policy Announcements, Thursday 2 August

**Government  **

• Health Secretary Alan Johnson today endorsed the offer of an improved pay package worth £52 million which will see enhanced pay and training opportunities for NHS staff but which keeps this year's pay increases in line with the Government's public sector pay policy. The proposed package includes an enhanced pay offer for staff at the lower end of the NHS pay scale, a £38 contribution towards professional regulation fees and an additional sum for local staff training initiatives.
• The Government today underlined its determination to improve life for disadvantaged children in England, with a cash injection of more than £4bn to children's centres, early years education and childcare. The money will go towards: providing a Sure Start Children's Centre in every community; outreach work to reach the most disadvantaged families; training and support for the early years workforce; ensuring there are sufficient childcare places in each Local Authority; ensuring every nursery and children's centre has a graduate to lead children's learning and development.

**Conservatives  **

• David Cameron has said retention among the armed forces would become "truly awful" unless improvements are made. The Conservative leader pledged to cut the number of Ministry of Defence bureaucrats to pay for more troops. Mr Cameron was speaking during a two-day visit to Afghanistan where he met UK troops stationed at Camp Bastion in the southern province of Helmand. The Tories have already promised they would launch an armed forces families manifesto before the next election.