Jonathan Djanogly, MP for the Huntingdon Constituency, has today warmly welcomed the Spring Budget, and particularly the Chancellor’s announcements on childcare reform and the cost of living which will benefit residents across the local area.

On childcare, the provision of thirty free hours a week has been extended to all working parents of children aged nine months until they start school, helping more parents take on the work that is right for them. Reforms also include increasing the hourly rate paid to nurseries, paying Universal Credit claimants their childcare entitlement upfront and increasing the maximum entitlement.

On the cost of living, the Government is extending the Energy Price Guarantee at £2,500 for a further three months, saving households an additional average £160 and bringing the total support for energy bills to £1,500 for a typical household since October 2022. The announcement also builds on the extensive support put in place for vulnerable households.

Jonathan has also hailed £63 million of funding being provided to support publicly-owned leisure centres with swimming pools, more details about which can be found here.

Furthermore, Jonathan is very supportive of policies aimed at extending working possibilities for the over 50s. In particular the Department for Work and Pensions’ retraining scheme ‘mid-life MOT’s strategy’ and the proposal for a new kind of apprenticeship, a ‘Returnship’, for over 50s who want to return to work.

Commenting on the Budget, Jonathan said:

“I know that the cost of living and childcare are two areas that pose real challenges to local households, and the Chancellor’s decision to take decisive action on both of them in today’s Spring Budget is excellent news.

“The childcare reforms alone will support over 3,000 families across Huntingdon into work, boosting local economic growth, and the decision to extend the Energy Price Guarantee is the right one in-light of continuing financial pressures for many.

“With 3.5 million pre-retirement age over 50s not part of the workforce, these proposals are useful to those who want to get back to work too.

“This Budget shows that this Government is focused on the right priorities for local people, and I will continue calling for more investment so that Huntingdonshire receive the support and focus it needs.”