Mr. Hammond also promised £15.3 billion over five years for measures to encourage construction, and an inquiry into claims that developers were hoarding land on which houses could be built. The government was ready to use compulsory purchase powers “as necessary,” Mr. Hammond said. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyMr. Hammond was once seen as a technocrat who made up for his lack of charisma with calm competence. On Wednesday, Mr. Hammond promised £3.75 billion more for Britain’s National Health Service over the next three years, with the possibility of extra to cover a potential pay raise for nurses. On Wednesday, Mr. Hammond announced that the Office for Budget Responsibility had cut its forecasts for economic growth over the next five years, based on lower growth in productivity.

Source: New York Times November 22, 2017 15:45 UTC