The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has welcomed the 2018 Budget which was presented to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Headline announcements within the Budget include a cut in income tax, a rise in the National Living Wage, a cut in business rates for small shops, an investment of £20.5 billion in the NHS, rolling out the 26-30 Railcard, a further freeze on Fuel Duty and £400 million more for schools this year.
Commenting, Eastleigh MP Mims Davies said:
“Like many of my constituents, I welcome this Budget, a Budget that has supporting hard working people across the country and across Eastleigh, Hedge End and our villages at its heart.
“At last year’s Budget, I was delighted that the Chancellor introduced my recommendation of a cut in Stamp Duty, which has helped thousands of people to buy their first home!
“This year’s Budget builds upon the last, introducing a tax cut for 32 million people, supporting our High Street through a cut in business rates, freezing Fuel Duty and rolling out the 26-30 Railcard, just a few of the announcements that will help hard working people across our area to get on in life.
“I am also really pleased that our local schools which are doing such a great job will benefit, with primary schools receiving on average a boost of £10,000 each, our secondary schools receiving on average an extra £50,000 each and our NHS receiving an investment of £20.5 billion.”
Earlier this year, the National Infrastructure Commission confirmed that the Solent Area is the fourth worst in the UK for traffic jams outside of London. The Chancellor’s Budget announcement of a £25.5 billion for Highways England and an extra £3.5 billion for major local routes will therefore be warmly welcome locally, as will the £420 million fund to tackle the blight of potholes.
Commenting further, Mims said:
“My constituents, who are too often delayed by queues and delays on our roads and affected by the blight of potholes following the ‘Beast from the East’ will also welcome significant funding, more than £28 billion, for infrastructure improvements within this Budget. This is incredibly important to us locally, and I will be lobbying to get our fair share!”