West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed measures which will help the economy to recover beyond the pandemic and into a period of economic growth for all.

Harriett commented:

“There are extremely welcome measures to help working people including an increase in the national living wage, pay rises for public sector workers and extra help for lower paid workers.

“A range of duties from alcohol to travel have been simplified and I was particularly pleased to see extra help for small cider producers. This is something that I have been lobbying a succession of chancellors about for several years and I know it will be welcomed by local producers.

“Businesses will also benefit from new measures, including a 50 per cent cut in business rates next year for most retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

“There’s also business rate relief to encourage green technology ventures and a doubling of creative industry relief for theatres, orchestras museums and galleries.

“As someone who is concerned about the country’s worrying levels of debt to pay for the cost of the pandemic, I am heartened by the Chancellor’s commitment to work towards balancing our books as quickly as possible.

“This Budget will make a real difference to people in West Worcestershire, helping working families with the cost of living, supporting businesses with their recovery, and investing in our public services so that everyone gets the world-class hospitals, schools, and police services they deserve.”