Dr Simon Opher

At the close of the third day of debate on the Budget, I will not go into all the detail that I might have gone into. I will concentrate on support for our high streets, and the transfer of power from Westminster and Whitehall. Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to go to our high street and talk to business owners. I talked, for instance, to Tom Berry, who owns probably the coolest record shop in Stroud, Sound Records. His business rates have been reduced from £400 a month to nothing. A great many businesses have had all their business rates removed because of the change to the small business rate relief threshold. A number of pubs now pay no business rates. For properties worth over £18,000, there will be a two-year real-terms rates freeze, providing much-needed stability at a time of great global economic uncertainty. I was delighted that the small producer relief on alcohol duty became more generous. Stroud Brewery and, in particular, my village brewery, Uley Brewery, have benefited. Uley Brewery’s famous pint of Old Spot ale will soon be available in the Strangers’ Bar, so I hope that Members will sample it. I would also like to say a little about pubs and VAT. This was not in the Budget, but we are looking at trying to reduce VAT on hospitality. A blanket cut to 10% would cost £12 billion and benefit organisations such as McDonald’s, but having a targeted approach would really help pubs. On devolution, I strongly welcome this Government’s intention to shift power out of Westminster and Whitehall. We have one of the most centralised countries in the world, with over 95% of tax revenues going to central Government. We in Gloucestershire do not have a devolution deal at the moment, and I ask all parties involved to form a consensus, so that we can benefit from devolution. That is one of the best things that this Budget delivers. The Budget has 98 measures to help with the cost of living. There is also £65 million for a community asset programme, which will help with community buy-outs. A little hidden thing is probably the most important thing in this Budget: prevention is ringfenced. That will be transformative for preventive therapies, particularly in health and elsewhere. I really welcome this Budget. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for including me.