In his last budget before the General Election, delivered in the House of Commons yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced the Government will provide funding for new flood prevention programmes on Canvey Island. Funding for already planned flood defence programmes will also be bought forward from 2018/19 into 2016.

The Chancellor also announced £1.5 million of funding Essex & Herts Air Ambulance after a campaign by the Castle Point MP for increased support from the Government for the lifesaving charity, for them to put towards a new aircraft.

In a wide ranging budget speech the Chancellor outlined his plans to continue to grow the economy, support hardworking families, cut the deficit further and produce a Government surplus by 2019. Amongst other things it included plans to abolish the tiresome annual self-assessment tax form, cut taxes on savings, continue to freeze fuel duty, and increase the minimum wage.

The Chancellor George Osborn said:

"Rebecca Harris has campaigned relentlessly for flood defence investment for Canvey Island. She successfully made the case last year and secured important funding - but carried on calling on the Government to do more on behalf of her constituents. It is great news that Canvey will now get more investment - and that planned works will start in this coming financial year, brought forward from 2018/19. Rebecca also called for funding for the Essex Air Ambulance, and I am delighted to be able to announce funding to go towards their life-saving work.”

Rebecca said:

“This is a fantastic budget. Good for Castle Point and good for the hardworking families and businesses across the country.

“I am very pleased that the Chancellor has found more money to improve our local flood resilience and is bringing important work forward. I have lobbied the Chancellor hard on this issue for residents and I am glad that we are getting extra money for flood defence measures like the dredging of Canvey Lake”.

“I am also very pleased that the Chancellor has continued to back the Essex Air Ambulance and has agreed to help fund a new helicopter for them. They do fantastic work saving lives around our county and they genuinely deserve this support”.