Philip Hammond hints at public spending increases later this year

Chancellor’s spring statement suggests that drop in deficit may release money for servicesPhilip Hammond has dropped the broadest possible hint that he will announce spending increases later this year as he sought to use a modest improvement in the public finances to indicate more money was on the way for hard-pressed public services.The chancellor seized on new forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility showing a £5bn drop in the government’s budget deficit to say tha