Steve Brine has warmly welcomed the largest changes to our tax system for a generation, as the government has made the biggest cuts to personal and business taxes for twenty years.
The changes, which will affect the lives of millions of people, are part of the Conservative-led government's long term economic plan, building an economy that supports full employment and helping put Britain to work.
In a letter to Steve Brine, Chancellor George Osborne said: "Without successful businesses we won't create new jobs. That's why on Tuesday corporation tax was reduced from 23% down to 21%, now one of the lowest rates in the world - and down from 28% when we took office. On the same day we introduced a billion pound package to help ease the burden of the business rates.
"We're giving our small high street shops and cafes and pubs £1,000 off their business rate bills. And we are doubling the Annual Investment Allowance so that businesses get 100% relief when they invest in their future. This will particularly benefit small and medium sized businesses.
"Tuesday was also supposed to be the day when fuel duty was increased. It won't - it's frozen again. In fact petrol will be 20p per litre less than it would have been under Labour's plans. That's a tax cut for families, and a tax cut for businesses too.
"From this Sunday people can keep the first £10,000 of what they earn before they pay any income tax. Four years ago, it was just £6,500 tax free. That means people keeping £700 more of their earnings and a tax cut for everyone earning up to £100,000.
"Finally, on Sunday we introduce the new Employment Allowance. Every business will get a £2,000 cut in the Employers National Insurance – the 'jobs tax' – which they would otherwise have paid.
"Up to 1.25 million employers will benefit, with around 450,000 of these – one third of all employers – taken out of paying employer NICs altogether. Proportionately, small businesses will benefit the most. A business employing one person on a salary of £22,400, or four adults full-time on the National Minimum Wage, will pay no employer NICs at all as a result. We are removing the obstacles to creating jobs.
Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine has long campaigned on business rates, raising the personal allowance and a fuel duty freeze. He said: "I was delighted with the Budget, and it is great to see real, practical measures now in place.
"Of course, getting Britain working means reforming welfare too, and a set of important welfare changes are starting now, and rolling out over the coming months.
"Half of all people on unemployment benefits will be signing on every week, and people who stay on benefits for a long time will have to go to the job centre every day so they can get constant help and encouragement. To claim benefits in future people will also have to show they can speak English, or, crucially, actually go on a course to learn how.
"In addition, the government is going to require people to look for work for a week first before they get their unemployment benefit, so from now on the deal is this: look for work first; then claim the dole - not the other way around.
"We will ask many of the long term unemployed to do valuable community work in return for their benefits - whether it is making meals for the elderly, clearing up litter, or working for a local charity. They will be gaining useful work experience and contacts, and there is an important principle here, namely, if you want something out, you've got to put something in.
"Put simply, this is the deal at the heart of our long term economic plan. We'll do everything we can to back business, help create jobs and make work pay, and in return we say that those who can work must take the jobs that are available."
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