As government departments count the cost of the chancellor's NHS splurge, ministers are left to fight over a planned £1.6 billion increase in spending in 2003/04.

Education looks set to come second in the "dash for cash" ahead of the chancellor's comprehensive spending review.

Estelle Morris has been lobbying the chancellor hard - accepting the need for health investment but pressing the case for additional funding for schools and universities.

Despite focussing on health, Brown gave a clear indication that education would be centre stage when he published detailed departmental spending plans.

"This summer we will set spending plans for every department until 2006 and, in the coming spending review, education will receive the priority it requires to deliver further substantial improvements, not just in our schools but also in our universities and colleges," said Brown.

This, however, could leave David Blunkett's Home Office cash-strapped as it faces the increased costs of rising crime and a growing prison population. It is unlikely to be good news for Stephen Byers' transport fiefdom either.

Brown now has to convince ministers that he has not forgotten about the critical issues of crime, defence and transport following his record-breaking boost for the health service.

The chancellor has already announced that the Home Office is to get an additional £180 million to combat terrorism and fight crime, although many predict this will not be enough to satisfy Blunkett.

The Ministry of Defence is also fearful that it could be left wanting when Brown announced his spending review.

With resources already stretched as a result of international commitments, the MoD has recently backtracked on signing high profile procurement contracts until defence chiefs have a clearer indication of their room for financial manoeuvre.

The ensure that departments are both spending their budgets and spending them wisely, for the first time the chancellor will use a checklist of targets set out in public service agreements to determine his CSR allocations.

On this basis, the transport department and the environment and rural affairs department could be hit following poor performance and significant budget underspends in some areas.