People living and working in Castle Point will benefit from today’s Budget as the Conservatives deliver on the promises made to the British people, investing in infrastructure, the NHS and public services across the region.  

The plans outlined by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, will get things done and provide security for now while laying the foundation for prosperity in the future.  

The Budget marks the start of a record level of investment in the people’s priorities - infrastructure, the NHS and public services – to ensure the promises in the General Election in December are kept and the potential of every part of the United Kingdom, including Castle Point, is unleashed.

It also makes good on the Conservatives’ commitment to help hard working families. An increase in the National Insurance threshold means that typical working families will keep £200 more of the money they earn each year. This is coupled an increase in the National Living Wage to support those in lower paid work.

Thanks to the measures taken today, someone working full-time on the minimum wage in the East of England will be over £5,200 better off compared to ten years ago when the Conservatives’ came into office.

The Budget also sets out the Government’s plans to double the amount it invests in the flood and coastal defence programme in England to £5.2 billion over six years. This increase more than exceeds the level of investment recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission.

The Government also announced measures to support businesses to weather disruption from COVID-19. Small and medium-sized businesses will have the cost of their employee’s statutory sick pay covered if their absence is related to COVID-19 and HMRC will be allowing most businesses in financial distress extra time to pay their tax liabilities if they call up and register their case. Small business support grants of up to £3,000 will also be made available to those in receipt of small business rate relief. In a boost for local highstreets the Government have also announced that the business rates retail discount is being increased to 100%, meaning hundreds of local shops won’t pay any business rates at all!

Conservative MP for Castle Point, Rebecca Harris, said today’s Budget proves this Government ‘will get things done’ for thousands of families across her constituency.  

Today’s other announcements for the East of England include:  

• Boosting road maintenance funding by £69 million. The East of England will receive £69 million in additional funding for local road maintenance through the Potholes Fund in 2020-21. 
• Investing £2.1 million of funding for full fibre networks. Essex and Hertfordshire have successfully bid for £2.1 million of funding from the third wave of the Local Full Fibre Networks challenge fund.  
• Upgrading and improving hospital facilities. As part of our £2.7 billion for six major hospital schemes, we are committing funding for two hospitals in the East of England – committing funding for The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.   

Commenting, Rebecca Harris MP said:  “This is a Budget that meets the priorities we laid out at the General Election and that provides support and reassurance to local businesses in the face of the Corona virus outbreak.

 Investment will reach record levels over the next five years, as the Conservatives commit to levelling up across the country – benefitting families and businesses in all corners of the country including Castle Point.   This budget will leave more money in the pockets of hardworking families, leave our flood defenses stronger, leave our roads with less potholes and leave our businesses more resilient.”