Today we have seen the biggest single tax cut in a decade thanks to this Government increasing the National Insurance threshold overnight from £9,880 to £12,570.
This will not only save 30 million workers up to £330 a year, but also lift 2.2 million people out of paying any National Insurance or income tax on their earnings at all.
I
am so pleased to see this week’s tax cut – worth £6 billion – as it is likely to make so
many people in the constituency better off and shows that this Government
is committed to supporting people through difficult times.
Speaking of tough times, this week we will also
see some of the measures promised by this Government to relieve some of the
pressures that households across the constituency are facing in the midst of
the cost of living crisis take effect.
In May the Government announced help for households across the country with £37 billion of financial support.
This included a council tax rebate, cut in fuel duty, a minimum of £400 for every household to help with energy bills and at least £1,200 for the eight million most vulnerable households.
From
next Thursday (July 14), eight million of the lowest income
households, including pensioners on pension credit,
will see the first part of the £650 cost of living payment as part of the
support measures automatically hit their bank accounts, continuing until the
end of the month.
The
second payment will be made in the autumn and all those who live in
the UK and are in receipt of Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Employment
and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and
Pension Credit are eligible.
I
know that the cost of living crisis is a huge concern and worry to so many
people and am pleased to see that the Government has listened to concerns and
is wasting no time in getting this further support for households out to those
who need it the most. This Government has a track record of listening to
constituents’ concerns and taking decisive action to address them if it can.
This
brings me to another issue that the Government is currently considering and one
I been working for some time as part of my ongoing efforts to address the current housing situation in
Cornwall amid the pressure the rise in short-term holiday let accommodation is
placing on housing that is needed for local people.
Last week the Government launched a
12-week review to help understand the impact short-term holiday lets are having
on housing in communities in tourism hotspots, like Cornwall.
This comes following the rise in use of rental booking websites
and apps, with large increase in the number of properties listed on platforms
such as Airbnb in recent years, especially in high tourist areas.
I am pleased that the
Government is taking positive action to ensure short-term holiday accommodation
and local communities can both work together.
However, it’s important
to stress that short-term holiday lets play a very important part in supporting
our local economy, so this is not a ban. This review will give us a clearer
understanding of how we can support those local communities in holiday hotspots
as well as the tourism industry.
All views on the impact
of short-term holiday accommodation will help the Government determine how to
protect much-loved communities and the thriving
holiday industry.
I would urge anyone who
has been affected by short-term holiday lets to take part in this call for
evidence so that the Government can get a clear picture of the impact they are
having on our communities here in mid-Cornwall.
It is reassuring to see
that the Government has listened to the concerns I have raised on behalf on
constituents and is taking action to address the housing crisis we are facing.
This is in addition to the Government measures which have already been
announced to give local communities greater ability to manage the impact that
second homes can have in some locations.
These measures include
closing tax loopholes, introducing higher stamp duty and permitting councils to
apply higher council tax on second homes.
The call for evidence
will run for 12 weeks until 11.45pm on September 21 and rest assured that I
will be responding to the survey after listening to feedback from across the
constituency.
More information on the
call for evidence is available here: Developing
a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If I can help you on
this matter or another, please do get in touch with my office – tel. 01726
829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk
