James Evans MS has today welcomed the Spring Statement by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, calling it a ‘welcome reprieve for working families’.
The Spring Statement was delivered by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, today in the House of Commons. In his statement he announced a wide variety of measures aimed at easing the cost of living crisis and allaying fears of fuel poverty issues.
The Chancellor is taking direct steps to support hard-working families in Wales, in light of increased financial pressures due to the war in Ukraine, the rising price of gas and oil and shortages in goods by:
• Scrapping VAT on renewable energy sources to help homeowners to reduce their energy costs, saving £1,000 in tax and £300 in energy costs per year.
• Equalising the tax threshold at £12,570 in July before workers’ pay income tax or national insurance, saving the typical employee £330 a year.
• Cutting fuel duty by 5 pence per litre for all fuel types from 6pm this evening, only the second time in twenty years.
• Doubling the Household Support Fund to £1 billion to help those families most in need.
The announcement follows the UK Government’s action earlier in the year to give households a £150 rebate through Council Tax and a £200 energy discount in October.
Commenting after the statement, James Evans MS for Brecon and Radnorshire said:
“Today’s statement by the Chancellor is a welcome reprieve for hard working families across Brecon and Radnorshire.
“It was great to hear a wide number of measures announced, the crucial cut to fuel duty will go a long way to cutting prices at the pump and ease my constituents concerns of ever rising energy bills. As people in Brecon and Radnorshire are far more likely to drive in their everyday lives than those in more urbanised areas.
“I was pleased that Rishi Sunak listened to calls from the Conservative benches and increased the national insurance threshold alongside announcing a cut to the basic rate of income tax. Saving families up and down Wales more of their hard earned money.
“Once again it was a clear message that whilst Labour in Cardiff Bay continue to play constitutional games such as creating more politicians, flirting with new tourism taxes and throwing money at socialist ideas like Universal Basic Income (UBI). The British Conservative Government are serious about tackling the most pressing issues facing working people.”
“I hope the Welsh Government follows suits and helps hard working people keep more of their own money by cutting taxes further.”
