What’s happening in Parliament?
There has been a lot of activity in Parliament this month with the main event being the Spring Budget. It has been confirmed that inflation has halved, the economy has performed better than forecast, and debt is on track to fall. The headline tax reform was a 2p cut in National Insurance contributions which, combined with the 2p cut announced at the Autumn Statement last year, will reduce the tax paid by an average worker by over £900 per year. Additional funding of £2.5 billion for the NHS was announced to support further progress towards improving performance and reducing waiting times. I also welcomed support for the creative industries, which I hope will benefit Ashford when the new studio complex, currently in early development at Newtown Works, opens. You can watch my contribution to the Budget debate below.
Select Committee Update:
In the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee we currently have five inquiries: Grassroots music venues, British film and high-end television, Minority languages, Gambling regulation, and Women’s sports. Our most recent publication is our report on safety at major sporting events. We looked at how sporting events can be made inclusive, ensuring they are well policed and welcoming environments.
