Staffordshire Leader responds to Chancellor’s Spring Statement

Speaking after the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Alan White, the Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: “We are investing hundreds of millions of pounds in Staffordshire’s business, digital and education infrastructure so that new and existing employers can thrive here with a skilled workforce on the doorstep, but there’s no doubt that rises in energy, fuel and materials are affecting businesses and hampering post-pandemic recovery, as well as making a real difference to the day-to-day lives of residents.

“Therefore, I welcome the Chancellor’s decision to cut the price of fuel and make another allocation of the Household Support Fund, which this year has been worth £5.5 million to Staffordshire residents, as well as promising future income tax cuts for workers, help for small businesses and more incentives for companies to invest in research and development.”

He added: “While the increase in the threshold for National Insurance is good news individually, that means the Treasury will receive less money overall from that direction.

“As part of that NI income is earmarked for the future provision of social care as we try to move the funding burden away from local authorities, I would be anxious to ensure that there is still enough available for a meaningful reform of the current situation, which sees councils spend the largest proportion of their budgets caring for the vulnerable.”