This week started with the Autumn Budget, which saw a number
of announcements that are good for Mid-Cornwall.
Firstly I was pleased to see the Chancellor announce a
minimum extra £2bn a year for mental health services, something which is so
important to see addressed in today’s society. In Cornwall we have already seen
this Government move forward with the new mental health inpatient unit for
young people that is currently being built, and this additional funding is much
welcomed, as well as the additional announcement of a new mental health crisis
centre, providing support in every accident and emergency unit in the country.
Also in terms of social care I was pleased to see the
Government provide an extra £700m for councils, on top of the winter pressures
money already given previously, for care for the elderly and those with
disabilities.
I was also pleased that following my calls to increase the
work allowance for Universal Credit the Chancellor announced a £1000 increase
that will give all households in work and claiming Universal Credit an
additional £630 per year. Along with increasing the National Living Wage to
£8.31 per hour and raising the personal tax allowance to £12500 this Budget
will put more money in everyone’s pockets who is in work.
In recent years I have successfully campaigned for Cornwall
Air Ambulance to get extra funding and I was pleased to see the Chancellor
confirm an additional £10m of funding for these vital services across the
country.
Of course it is also important to support businesses which
are the lifeblood of our economy and I was pleased to see the Chancellor
announce £900 million to cut business rates by one third for two years, for
retailers with rateable value of under £51,000, saving up to 90 per cent of all
shops up to £8,000 each year, and building on previous reductions worth more
than £12.5 billion.
This goes along with a £675 million for a Future High
Streets Fund and a new High Streets Taskforce. This will support councils to
implement plans for the transformation of their high streets.
It was also good to see, beer, cider and spirits
duty frozen for another year, supporting patrons of the Great British pub. The
Budget also included a fund of £10million to support our fishing industry that
local fisherman are set to benefit from.
Turning to our
transport infrastructure, the Government announced an additional £420
million available immediately to help tackle potholes, bridge repairs and other
minor works, as well as £150 million to improve local traffic hotspots such as
roundabouts.
Finally, it was also great to see the Chancellor recognise
my campaign and stopping operators of public toilets, often hard-pressed parish
councils, from having to pay business rates in the future.
This was a good Budget for Mid-Cornwall and I now look forward to
working to ensure we get our fair share of the national funds that have been
announced today.
My team and I are here to serve the whole
constituency and work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone
needing support. The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am –
4.00pm (no appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my
assistance on then please, either visit the office or contact me on either
01726 829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular,
appointment only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can
be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
