THERE are to be no cuts to police funding in Cumbria, according to George Osborne's Autumn Statement. 

Richard Rhodes, Cumbria's crime commissioner, said:"I am relieved that the police budget has been spared further cuts. 

"We now need to have a transparent debate with the Home Office on the principles of the funding formula in order to protect policing in the county. 

"Meanwhile I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Cumbria for their support. 

"It is only by working together that we can get our voice heard." 

The policing grant is the main income stream and accounts for nearly two-thirds of Cumbria Constabulary's overall budget. 

Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: "We welcome today's announcement on the protection of police budgets at this time, which will help us to continue to effectively police Cumbria following the savings we have already made. 

"Over the next few weeks we will begin planning budget forecasts for the coming years, this will still be subject to the outcome of the delayed police funding formula consultation."

The Government will also double its spending on energy research with a major commitment to small modular nuclear reactors.

Lillyhall, in Workington, will not be made into an Enterprise Zone but Kingmoor Park in Carlisle will be one of the 25 new or extended zones.

The Chancellor has also said there will be no changes to the Working Tax Credit system and that the £15 million in VAT raised by the so-called 'tampon tax' will be given to women's charities. 

In education, 500 new free schools and University Technical colleges are to be opened. 

Local councils will be able to add two per cent to council tax bills if the money is then used to fund social care in their area. 

The number of apprenticeships available are to be increased from two million at present to three million by 2017. 

An apprenticeship levy has been set at 0.5 per cent of employer's wage bills with a £15,000 allowance for all firms taking part. 

Rob Johnston, Chief Executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce said: “We asked for clarity and we now have the clarity we asked for. Clearly the Government expects larger businesses to pay their way. 

"This appears to be reasonably good news for smaller businesses as the £15,000 allowance means that the 0.5% levy doesn’t kick in until their wage bill reaches £3 million. So we understand that less than 2% of UK employers will pay the levy in practice."

The health service to get a cash injection of £6 billion next year but the NHS in England will be expected to make £22 billion in efficiency savings. 

An extra £600 million is being made available for mental health services.

The cap on training places for student nurses is to be stopped with the aim of increasing the number of trainees by 10,000.

Local councils are to get £10 million to help homeless people.