Adam Dance

I agree with my hon. Friend. One of the biggest issues we have in Somerset is that even if there is a bus, sometimes it is so delayed, it is four hours late and students cannot get to college. The can has been kicked down the road to the spending review next year as to how the Government plan to meet their NATO commitment of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence. Yet again, that leaves many of the cutting-edge defence firms that are the beating heart of Yeovil’s economy in uncertain times. Similarly, there was nothing in the Chancellor’s speech on education, when 70% of schools across England have had less funding in real terms than in 2010 and we have a growing SEND funding black hole. Investment in education is an investment in the future of this country and a sure-fire way to drive growth, so it is disappointing to see that funding solutions to this issue have also been kicked down the road. One of the biggest issues impacting growth is how we do taxation. Business relief is great, but I do not know how many more of us have to call it “the broken business rates system” before the message gets through. So many businesses have contacted me since the Budget saying, “It is great, you have helped some, but you have not helped us. We are at the point of closing our doors.” Business rates need abolishing and replacing with a commercial landowner levy. That is not all, however. Council tax is one of the biggest challenges raised by Yeovil constituents, because the system is out of date and we need bold Government action to change that. Unfortunately, the Government have decided not to rise to those challenges in this Budget and the people of Yeovil will continue to suffer the consequences of this Government’s inaction.