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Britain spent £5.4 billion less than it received in taxes in January, despite support for private customers’ energy bills. Public borrowing so far this financial year is £30.6 billion less than predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The Royal College of Nursing called off next week’s 48-hour strike in England to restart talks with the government. The government recommended offering public sector workers such as judges, policemen, teachers, doctors, nurses and dentists in England and Wales pay rises of 3.5 per cent; the recommendations will be considered by independent pay review bodies.
Supermarkets saw a dearth of tomatoes, attributed to bad weather in Morocco and Spain. Asda rationed lettuces to three per customer and Morrisons said that no one could buy more than two cucumbers even for ready money. Pret A Manger, having offered subscribers up to five drinks a day, said it would stop making smoothies, frappes and milkshakes altogether.
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