Following the announcement of the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) on 20 October 2010, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) Chief Executive Julia Unwin commented:"It is encouraging that the Chancellor cited'fairness'as one of the main principles behind the measures announced in today's Spending Review. He also claimed that those with the broadest shoulders would bear the biggest proportion of the pain, a stance we welcome.

"Yet, when we look at the detail of the measures announced, the news is mixed for people and places in poverty. The JRF will monitor the impact of these decisions closely and will continue to shine a light on what happens to the poorest."

The JRF also observed that increased funding for schools and childcare could have real positive outcomes for children from deprived backgrounds and compensates for cuts to other areas. In contrast, benefit cuts look regressive and will hit the poorest hardest.

It comments that the protection of universal benefits for pensioners, along with the increased funding to adult social care is welcome news. However, it is disappointed that the plight of childless working-age adults remains ignored.

The Foundation says there is already a serious problem with housing supply, and in particular the supply of affordable housing. It is concerned that the level of funding for affordable housing is now far too low, and that the new approach, which will place all new tenants into a single system, is too rigid.

JRF will publish further detailed analysis of the CSR announcement in relation to welfare, education, adult social care, social housing and the environment onhttp://www.jrf.org.uk/public-spending