West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed a tranche of tax-cutting measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his spending statement.

Declining inflation and stronger economic projections has enabled Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to implement 110 measures to stimulate growth.

He was also able to confirm £104 billion of support to help people with the cost of living, cuts to National Insurance payments and an increase in the National Living Wage by 9,8 per cent.

The pensions triple lock was protected, meaning the state pension will rise by 8.5 per cent from April and working age benefits will also increase, by 6.7 per cent next year.

Fuel and alcohol duties were again frozen, and the Chancellor confirmed a business rates package worth £4.3 billion to support the hospitality, retail and leisure industries.

Harriett said:

“This time last year, inflation was over 11 per cent and the Chancellor had to introduce a range of important yet difficult measures to bring the economy under control.

“Latest figures show that inflation has fallen to 4.6 per cent and the forecasts are good enough to allow the Chancellor to cut taxes whilst maintaining the right level of support for lower paid workers and those struggling with the cost of living.

“I’ll be looking closely at the detail and in my role as chair of the Treasury Select Committee, I will be asking the Chancellor some detailed questions about his choices next week.

“But this Autumn Statement is extremely positive news for local people and local employers and I am confident that as inflation gets under tighter control, the economic picture will get increasingly brighter next year.”