michael buchanan, bbc news, southend.in belfast, but first let's go to our scotland editorjames cook in glasgow. the chancellor, jeremy hunt, says his decision to increase public spending on health and education in england means there will be an extra £1.5 billion available for the scottish government's budget over two years, although the first minister, nicola sturgeon, says that money is being swallowed up by inflation, and she accuses the conservatives of re—imposing austerity. now, it will be up to the acting finance secretary, john swinney, to decide how to spend the money he does have, and that will happen next month. he will also have to decide whether or not to replicate some of the big tax changes in mr hunt's statement. now, some of what the chancellor set out does apply here, including, for example, the increases in pensions and in some benefits. 0n the issue of a windfall tax, there is some support for that in parts of scotland, but in the north—east of the country in particular, there is concern that it might

michael buchanan, bbc news.rols on people are becoming more repressive and there are new restrictions on public expression — tough penalties for those who dare to protest. some academics are drawing comparisons with memories of a darker past, whenjoseph stalin ruled the soviet union with an iron fist. millions of russians died during stalin's brutal dictatorship, part of history that russia tries to forget. but as steve rosenberg reports from st petersburg, there are fears that the lessons from that time are needed today. singing. how many in russia want to remember the darker chapters of their country's history? very few. every year they gather to remember the great terror of the 1930s... ..by reading out the names ofjosef stalin's victims, the million he executed, the millions more sent to prison camps. the gulag has gone but fear is returning. repression is increasing by the week, local politician sergei troschen tells me. you can feel the fear today in russian society. and we can feel we are being watched an

michael buchanan, bbc news. inflation of 10% or ii% is bad enough for people here in europe.where they are grappling with prices rising at more than 80% a year. official figures out later are expected to show an inflation rate of 86%, and rather than raising borrowing costs — the usual way to try and control inflation — the government of president erdogan has been cutting interest rates — causing the currency to spiral lower against the us dollar, and further pushing up the prices of imported goods. let's talk to professor guido cozzi from the university of st gallen in switzerland, who is following this. i have spoken to you about this before in the months gone by. i they still cutting rates in turkey? they still cutting rates in turke ? , , . ., , turkey? yes, they cut rates recently. — turkey? yes, they cut rates recently, but _ turkey? yes, they cut rates recently, but in _ turkey? yes, they cut rates recently, but in order- turkey? yes, they cut rates recently, but in order to - turkey? yes, they cut rates recently, but in order to cut rates they are massively increasing

falling and rising prices mean they are struggling to restock, as our social affairs correspondent michael buchananity for some charities. falling donations mean it's a weekly scramble for this charity to fill up to 1,000 food boxes a week for needy families across the north—east. we used to have 19 items in a box of food that we sent out. we are down to 17 now because we just simply don't have the money to put those extra items in. what have you taken out? we have taken out tea bags and we are just on the point of taking out meat. the charity was formed to provide help at christmas and last year 9,000 hampers were distributed. this year, it will likely be far fewer. last year, the christmas cake cost us 93p. this year the price we are quoted is £1.40, so at the moment i can only commit to buying 6,000. i can't blow the whole of the budget just on christmas cakes. when we do a drop off, eople say it's going out as soon as it is coming in. it does, it's like a revolving door. a few miles away, much needed donation for a small food bank in newcastle. its shelves are also near emptyjust as demand is s

our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan looks at the impact of cuts to public spending in thes. previous spending cuts made poor communities poorer. between 2010 and 2020 the average household wealth in the south—east of england increased by 42%. here in the north—east, it rose just 3%. in horden in county durham, hundreds of crumbling houses sit empty, attracting criminals. this tap is a £29 tap. you'd get about 50p scrap off it, £1 scrap. but they'll nick the tap? but they'll take the tap, they'll take the sink. builder ian young says it is a struggle to renovate the properties. the electrician came in, he rewired it. over the weekend, been burgled again, all the cable had been pulled out. the kitchen refitted, that had been taken. ian said thieves had even stolen this windowpane. the streets were due to be renovated years ago but the plans were shelved when the government decided to charge social housing tenants with a spare room the so—called bedroom tax. people no longer wanted to rent these homes as it would cost them. residents now want the houses demolished but can't s

michael buchanan has spent the day in southend getting reaction to the chancellor's plans. 6.30am, andst. there you go. before heading out for an early - before heading out for an early meeting at his further education college. each day seems to bring a new financial challenge for the father of three.— new financial challenge for the father of three. this morning, the train cost more _ father of three. this morning, the train cost more depending - father of three. this morning, the train cost more depending on - father of three. this morning, the | train cost more depending on what time i take it, sol train cost more depending on what time i take it, so i have £3 less to spend on lunch.— time i take it, so i have £3 less to spend on lunch. public sector wages have been squeezed _ spend on lunch. public sector wages have been squeezed for _ spend on lunch. public sector wages have been squeezed for a _ spend on lunch. public sector wages have been squeezed for a decade, l spend on lunch. public sector wages| have been squeezed for a decade, so as he heads out this morning, adam has hope