West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed a range of measures which will help boost jobs and growth in a statement she dubbed “The Early Christmas Statement”. Chancellor George Osborne made his annual statement to the House of Commons outlining measures to help businesses create even more jobs. The package includes Help for the High Street of up to £1,000 for retail premises, including shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, offering good news for businesses in Malvern, Pershore, Tenbury and Upton-upon-Severn. Other measures to help business include a new 'reoccupation relief', which will halve the rates bills of businesses taking over premises empty for over a year and the doubling of Small Business Rate Relief, extended to April 2015. Harriett also welcomed news that National Insurance for under 21s is scrapped altogether. She said: “This was more like an ‘Early Christmas Statement’ than an ‘Autumn Statement’ for my constituents. The jobs tax on all young people under 21 is abolished, there’s real help for the high street, free school meals for all infants, a 2p planned fuel hike scrapped and a £2.95 increase in the State Pension and more young people than ever are in apprenticeships and heading to university. “As the Chancellor said the job is not done but we've reduced the deficit by 40 per cent, seen a record number of people in work, a record low in workless homes and a rise in disposable income. “We are only able to help hardworking people because we have taken difficult decisions to control spending. We are building a responsible recovery and our plan is working, but we need to keep going. “There is also great news for motorists. Fuel duty will be frozen next year and will be 20 pence per litre lower by the end of the Parliament compared to plans inherited from Labour. This saves local motorists £11 every time they fill up their tank.”