Karl has warmly welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s (Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP) Autumn Budget and Spending Review in the House of Commons yesterday.
In the Budget, the Chancellor set out the Conservative Government’s plans to help working families in Lincoln meet the cost of living, increase support for local businesses to help drive the recovery from the pandemic, and, for further investment in education, skills and health service. This included a rise in the national minimum wage from £8.91 per hour to £9.50 from April next year.
Karl particularly welcomes the extra investment on skills with an increase of 42% (£3.8 billion) over the remaining course of this Parliament. This will include more hours of learning for 16 to 19-year-olds, including those who are taking T-levels, more traineeships, more institutes of technology and funding the lifetime skills guarantee. There will also be available extra funding to help upgrade further education colleges.
In addition, he also supports the extra £850 million for museums, theatres and galleries alongside extra support for high streets. He will ensure that Lincoln’s thriving heritage and arts community receives its fair share.
Speaking after the Budget, Karl said: “The Chancellor’s welcome Budget clearly recognised the pressures working families are under alongside the need to invest in public services and grow the economy quickly. These are the priorities that I share and the priorities of those I represent here in Lincoln.
“Given how important manufacturing, engineering and science is to local jobs and businesses, the extra investment in skills training was a real positive. Making sure everyone has the chance to start a career at an early age or change career, later on, is vital at a personal level and also for our local economy.
“The heritage and arts community in Lincoln is a real jewel in our crown and makes us truly stand out at a regional and national level. The extra funding and support in these areas will make a difference and allow this community to go from strength to strength. I will do all I can as ever to ensure we obtain our fair share of the extra funding.
“This was a Budget that will continue to secure Lincoln’s position as the best place in Britain to live, work, study and visit.”