Social spending remains priority in draft budget - PM
MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax) - The main spending item in the budget for next year and the planning period makes provisions for funding to provide socially important services to the public, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
"The main item of spending is still social support for citizens and provision of socially important services in the area of education, healthcare [and] culture. 57% of the funds of the federal and regional budgets are being directed toward these goals," Medvedev said at a government meeting on Thursday.
He said the federal budget alone allocates more than 2.5 trillion rubles over three years for payment of pensions and various benefits, subsidies and compensation.
"By 2017 spending on the areas of education, healthcare and social policy will exceed the 2014 level. Wage increases for public sector workers: teachers, medical, social and science workers will also be continued. Provisions have been made to provide support to regional budgets, which bear the main financial burden in carrying out the May decrees of the president," Medvedev said.