In addition to Brexit and standing up for Crawley schools this week, the Spring Statement also took place in the House of Commons.

The Statement included an outlook of the public finances, with wages growing faster than expected and rising faster than prices, employment increasing with over 600,000 extra jobs by 2023, and the UK economy continuing to grow at 1.2 per cent this year – faster than Germany for example.

There is, however, no room for complacency. In the coming weeks, the tax-free Personal Allowance will rise to £12,500 one year early, saving a typical basic rate taxpayer £130 compared to 2018-19 and more than £1,200 since 2010-11.

There was also confirmation that the National Living Wage will increase next month to £8.21; an annual pay rise of £690 for a full-time worker. Indeed, around four fifths of jobs created since 2010 are full-time.

I welcome measures to take action against knife crime which will see £100 million of additional funding for police. This extra support is vital to rid our communities of this blight on society.

Earlier this year the NHS Long-Term Plan confirmed a historic funding settlement for our NHS which will be worth £394 million a week extra.

From 2020, at this year’s Spending Review overall public funding will increase above inflation, with more for frontline services that we all rely on.

Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency

House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
[email protected]
www.henrysmith.info