Harriett Baldwin MP for West Worcestershire, commented: “This week’s budget was a plan for keeping our economy on course while continuing towards delivering a budget surplus which puts the next generation first.
“There are measures that will be welcomed by Worcestershire people including the freezing of fuel duty for the sixth year in a row to help commuters and keeping business on the move.
“Many more local traders will benefit from the doubling of the business rates threshold with 600,000 business now being removed from paying business rates again.
“Self-employed people will be delighted with the abolition of their National Insurance Contributions providing an £130 tax cut for three million workers.
“There’s more money for flood defence schemes and measures to help school funding ensuring that 90 per cent of schools that will benefit from the new fairer national formula by the end of this Parliament.
“Working people will welcome the confirmation that tax free personal allowances will rise to £11,500 next year delivering a tax cut for 31 million people. The higher rate threshold will also increase to £45,000, a tax cut of over £400.
“The British economy is stronger because we confronted our country’s problems and took the difficult decisions. Britain is well prepared to handle this challenge, but only if we act now so we don’t pay later.”