Last week's Summer Budget saw further progress towards the balancing of Britain’s books and included both welfare reform and tax cuts which stand the country in good stead for the future. There was welcome cross-party agreement on the scale and nature of the changes to welfare and it is to be hoped that the strategy of making work pay is something that will be ingrained in Britain’s politics for good.
In addition to further raising the tax free threshold for income, the Government announced a National Living Wage which will rise to £9 an hour by 2020 for those over 25 as well as a greatly expanded system of apprenticeships with industry backing which is excellent news for younger people in their search for good jobs and opportunities. It was also welcome to see changes to rules on housing benefit and social housing costs which, in addition to changes in the deductibility of mortgage interest for buy-to-let landlords and measures to encourage house building, should lead to a better balance of housing availability for those who want to get on the housing ladder.
By strengthening public finances and economy the Government has been able to commit to investing in services for the future. These include defence, where we have committed to real terms increases in the defence budget every year for this Parliament, and at least two percent of GDP. This is important because service men and women and those connected to them, as well as the defence industries which are so prominent in our area and the South West, can be confident that the Government is able to plan properly for their future and for the future defence of the nation.
It was fitting that last weekend I spent Saturday at Yeovilton Air Day, which showcased the best that Britain has to offer in our forces' equipment including helicopters built in Yeovil. This was particularly appropriate on the 75th anniversary of the Fleet Air Arm at Yeovilton as well as the 100th anniversary of Westland itself. It was truly a great day for everybody involved, with wonderful historic flight examples such as the Vulcan for the last time at Yeovilton, the Sea Vixen which hopefully will return many times, and Seafire and Spitfire displays, providing particularly stirring performances. Particular thanks must go to Jock Alexander who has led the Air Station at Yeovilton admirably and retires as Commodore later this year.
This week I also had important meetings in Chard. It was a great pleasure to meet some of the newly selected and elected student representatives at Holyrood Academy as well as the Principal, who has an ambitious vision for the school which I support wholeheartedly and will do my best to advance. I also met with representatives of Chard Football Club and the Council to try to find a way to improve football facilities to enable the club to progress. I will do what I can in Chard, Ilminster and Yeovil, which in particular have issues around sports facility provision, to involve central government's funding and technical support functions, because it is so important to our health and wellbeing and our sense of pride and fun.