Andrew Jones MP welcomed the Government’s budget with its plan to reform the economy to support jobs and growth, and to take steps to help families in Harrogate and Knaresborough with the cost of living – including an immediate cut in fuel duty.
Key measures in the budget which will boost growth in our area include:
Tax cuts for businesses and entrepreneurs
Scrapping burdensome regulations
New investment in science and innovation; and
More support for young people with additional apprenticeships and work experience places.
Mr Jones said: “The unemployment rate in Harrogate and Knaresborough has historically been lower than the national average, yet has been increasing in recent years with 1,445 people in the constituency presently claiming job seekers allowance. The budget tackles this trend, cutting corporation tax and encouraging businesses to grow generating greater employment opportunities in our area. Growth in enterprise is the key to get our economy back on track.”
Responding to concerns over fuel prices, the budget will:
Immediately cut fuel duty by one penny per litre and delay April’s inflation rise in duty to next January. This means fuel duty is six pence lower than it would be under Labour.
Introduce a fair fuel stabiliser taxing oil companies more to stop above inflation rises in fuel duty.
Mr Jones said: “Many families and businesses are worried about fuel costs and the knock-on effect this has on their household income or revenue. In particular, I recently met with a Harrogate-based haulage company who are struggling because of rising fuel prices. This budget will help, immediately cutting fuel duty, delaying future fuel duty increases and implementing a fair fuel stabiliser.”
To help families facing the rising cost of living, the budget will also:
Increase the Personal Allowance by a further £630 from April 2012. That’s an increase of £126 per year in cash terms. Together with this year’s rise, that means a total of £326 extra each year for those working hard to support their families. And it means, just ten months into office, this coalition Government has taken 1.1 million low paid people out of tax altogether.
Mr Jones said: “The credit crunch has been hard on local families who experienced a rising cost of living disproportionate to pay increases. The budget will ease that pain, cutting income tax for 1.87 million people in Yorkshire and the Humber and phasing 104,000 people out of tax from 2012- 2013. Many jobs in the Harrogate district are low paid – particularly those in the hospitality industry. The budget will put more money into those people’s pockets which in turn will lead to increased spending on the high street and a stronger local economy.”
