COUNCILS across the country will see an emergency injection of cash to cope with social care funding but it won't be enough to halt the crisis.

An extra £2billion is to be made available over the next three years, but only half of that will be distributed to councils in 2017/18.

The government hasn’t set out how the split between councils will happen, but even in the best case scenario, Swindon is unlikely to see a sum that comes close to meeting the scale of the challenge it is facing.

The move was met with muted appreciation by council leader David Renard.

“It’s very welcome, it will help,” he said. “But it doesn’t meet the pressures that all local authorities are facing.

“We’ll have to wait to see the detail to find out exactly how much will be coming to Swindon, but given the overspends most local authorities are seeing it will probably only cover some of the increase in demand.”

Mr Hammond was in a jovial mood as he delivered his Budget statement from the despatch box. Tory MPs cheered his claims that the economy was on a firm footing as the country headed towards the unknown future surrounding Brexit.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “Our strong economy has delivered better than expected growth, improved public finances and record employment.

“With these strong foundations we can deliver £2billion extra for adult social care, much needed increased capacity for our A&Es and significant investments in our schools and training.

“This is a Budget that has redoubled our commitment to a strong economy, laying the foundations of a stronger, fairer, more highly-skilled global Britain - the best place in the world to do business.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland added: “It was an excellent Budget with £2billion more for social care provision over the next three years and more investment in infrastructure projects that are so important for the economy.

“It builds upon the progress we have made in supporting hardworking families when it comes to raising income tax thresholds. I was very pleased to see up to £40million to be invested in skills training for adults, too.”

But critics are accusing the Chancellor of going against manifesto commitments in relation to National Insurance that he made ahead of the last election.

Class 4 National Insurance payments for the self employed are now set to rise over the next two years, from nine per cent in 2017 to 11 per cent in 2019. Conventional employees pay 12 per cent.

There are now suggestions that around1.6 million self-employed people will be paying an average of £240 more per year.

Mr Buckland is among those to have defended the change, arguing that the previously announced abolition of class 2 contributions means that even with the class 4 increase, self employed people on lower or average incomes would still be better off.

“The change also reflects the fact that the new, increased state pension will no longer reflect a difference between employed and self employed contributions," he added.

But for some self-employed people trying to make ends meet in Swindon, the change feels like another shift in the goalposts that makes their ability to succeed more difficult.

John Linstead, who owns JL Waste Removal, said: “It is difficult being self employed and I don’t think they’re making it easier.

“It’s getting harder to afford all the extra costs and often you wonder what the point is.

“I’ve put so much time and money into my business, but sometimes you need a bit of help too.”

But others understand the Chancellor’s rationale.

Janet Garrett, 62, who opened a puppy school after years in the private sector, said: “Having been employed for years, my business is now ten years old.

“I know that my National Insurance contributions were much higher when employed than self employed.

“I can understand why the Chancellor would want to bring us up to balance it out, after all we still use the same facilities. I’m quite ok with that – we’ve all got to help out and contribute.”