York Press column: A postbag filled with health and economy
December 6, 2023
Health and the economy are regular topics in my postbag and my activity is shaped around correspondence from constituents. This past fortnight has been no different with events in Parliament promoting the issues that matter most to residents in York.
It was great to mark this year’s Family Business Week, which had the theme of ‘Future Leaders’, with some of Yorkshire’s most successful businesses coming down to Parliament.
Family businesses are the cornerstone of the UK economy, and our local economy in York, where we have so many great businesses, such as Pavers and The Shepherd Group to name but a few. It is fantastic to see so many new and creative businesses emerging, and I passionately believe that the Government, which has a proud record of supporting businesses, must always recognise its duty to support businesses in achieving their full potential.
When I returned to York I visited Strensall Coffee Shop, a new family business providing a much-needed community venue for the village. It was great to hear how Hazal was supported by all her family in making her vision a reality and I wish her every success.
The key economic news of recent weeks has undoubtedly been the Autumn Statement. Over the last few months, I have been lobbying the Chancellor to support the hospitality and tourism sectors that are so important to our city. While he did not get a clean sweep of his requests, two out of three of policies I advocated for alongside supporters of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group were delivered. These were an extension of the business rates relief and for alcohol duty to be frozen. This will cut the price of a pint of beer or lager by 3p. In total, this is an effective tax cut for pubs, restaurants and high street shops that is worth £4.7bn.
Another key policy in the Autumn Statement was the decision to make full expensing permanent. This is the biggest business tax cut in over 50 years and will incentivise businesses to reinvest capital to fuel growth. This not only benefits existing businesses but, with the most generous capital allowance in the G20, the United Kingdom is boldly showing that we are open to business and welcome investment.
It was good to see Mr Hunt also help working families. The cut to National Insurance by two percentage points to 10%, which will help 27 million people and is a key measure to ease the burden on working people in York. It will save someone on the average wage in Britain over £450. This is especially impressive as it will be fast tracked and brought in in January, rather than April as is normal.
Regular readers of this column and my social media will note that many events in parliament raise awareness of rare diseases or seek funding for treatment research. Last week, I attended the launch of the ‘I Count’ campaign which aims to increase awareness around Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), which is an aggressive and lesser-known type of breast cancer.
TNBC is a type of breast cancer where the cancer cells do not have receptors for the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, or the HER2 protein, which are often targeted by existing therapies. This means we do not have as many treatments for TNBC as other kinds of breast cancer. I have signed up to the campaigns eight recommendations and will be lobbying Ministers to enact them as soon as possible.
While the campaign for TNBC is just beginning, this week saw what I hope is the beginning of the end for victims of the contaminated blood scandal of the seventies and eighties. I joined nearly 150 backbench Members of Parliament from ten political parties to support an amendment to the Victim and Prisoners Bill, which would begin the compensation process ahead of the final report due to be published next year. These victims have waited long enough and the head of the inquiry has already announced his compensation recommendations, so I see no reason to wait. Fortunately others agreed with me and the backbench amendment passed by four votes. I must pay credit to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS as well as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood for all their campaigning to bring together such a broad coalition of backbench MPs. I hope this vote can begin to resolve this decades long ordeal for victims.
