Dear Constituent,
As a Treasury Minister, I’ve spent the last few months working on our plan to deliver for you. This is a long term plan - and the Chancellor set out the next steps at the Budget this week. We’re supporting the most vulnerable with an extension of the Household Support Fund; unlocking new opportunities to invest in British businesses with the new British ISA; and investing to improve the productivity of our public services.
Our cuts to National Insurance in the Budget and last year’s Autumn Statement will put an extra £900 into the pockets of the average worker this year. Working parents will benefit from our decision to increase the threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge, as part of our longer term plan to move this to a household income assessment. And because we’ve protected the Triple Lock, pensioners on the full new state pension will get an extra £902 this year.
Supporting local business is one of my top priorities - part of my plan to grow our local economy and create more jobs in our communities. This week I hosted local businesspeople for a briefing on the Budget and met with Churchgate retailers in Hitchin. In Westminster, I hosted some brilliant female entrepreneurs and investors in Downing Street for International Women’s Day.
You’ve told me about the need to grow local NHS capacity. Particularly with our local Councils’ plans for significantly more housing in our area. This week I’m pleased to confirm that I’ve secured the support of developers at East of Luton to include a GP surgery early on in the delivery of that development - should North Herts Council give it the go ahead. This surgery will serve our villages, helping to reduce pressure on local GP services and cut waiting times.
And while we’re making good progress delivering on your priorities, unfortunately the Lib Dem administration at St. Albans Council continues to let our communities down. Hot on the heels of their latest delay on their Local Plan, this week the Government has been forced to step in and put their failing planning department - one of the worst in the country - into special measures.
Read the newsletter in full to find out about everything I’ve been up to this week!
Yours,
Bim
This week’s headlines…
Action & news for Hitchin, Harpenden & the villages
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Hosting local business leaders for a Budget briefing
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Joining businesses and North Herts Council to discuss Churchgate
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Securing support for a new GP surgery in our villages
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Responding to St. Albans Council being sanctioned on planning
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Supporting local resident Matt who is raising money to look after homeless veterans
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Meeting residents on Bedford Road in Hitchin to discuss bus lane plans
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Knocking on doors with my team to hear your views
Updates from Westminster
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This week in Westminster…A Budget that delivers for people in Hitchin, Harpenden & the villages
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Supporting the Chancellor as he set out our new Budget
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Listening to female leaders in business and finance in Downing Street on International Women’s Day
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Finding out more about park tennis as our local success in grassroots sport continues
Latest media
