Rutland MP Alicia Kearns says today's Budget puts jobs and livelihoods at its heart.

The Government, she continues, has made a clear commitment to support those whose jobs and businesses which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government is not turning off support, and has enhanced it, through a package of over £407 billion for families, jobs and businesses into next year.

The measures announced by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, include:

1. An extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until the end of September, ensuring it continues to support employers as they begin to reopen. Two further grants will also be available to self-employed people – and the newly self-employed will also be eligible for both grants.

1. A continuation of the temporary Universal Credit uplift for a further six months. The Budget also confirms new support for providing young people with new skills: including doubling the incentive payment to SMEs to take on apprentices of any age to £3,000, and £126 million to triple the number of traineeships next year.

1. New Recovery Loans and a new Restart grant of up to £18,000 to help businesses as they reopen. Support for the sports, arts and culture sectors will also be increased by a further £700 million as they begin to reopen.

1. Extending the business rates holiday, VAT cut and stamp duty holiday. There will also be a new mortgage guarantee scheme from April which backs 95 per cent mortgages – helping those with smaller deposits.

1. Opening up the new Levelling Up Fund for its first round of bids, worth £4.8 billion across the United Kingdom. The Budget also announces 45 new Town Deals to help spread opportunity across the country.

1. Announcing the locations of eight freeports in England, including East Midlands Airport, which will encourage free trade and bring investment to all regions of the country through lower taxes and cheaper customs.

1. Launching the first ever UK Infrastructure Bank – located in Leeds – to invest in public and private projects to drive green growth and create green jobs.

1. A new Help to Grow scheme to boost productivity of small businesses, to ensure they are embracing the latest technology and management training.

1. Being honest with the British people about the need to fix the public finances. We are standing by our manifesto pledge not to increase Income Tax, NICs or VAT and we are freezing alcohol duty, and fuel duty

for the 11th year in a row.

However to fix the public finances, corporation tax on large company profits will increase to 25 per cent in 2023. This will be tapered and 70 per cent of businesses will be completely unaffected.

1. The Budget will strengthen all four parts of the United Kingdom, with bespoke schemes for each nation confirmed additional funding for Scotland (£1.2 billion), Wales (£740 million), and Northern Ireland (£410 million).

Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton said:"The Budget today gives the people of Rutland and Melton certainty above all: the Government will not leave anyone behind.

"For Rutland and Melton, I particularly welcome the support given to business. I know that businesses across the constituency will welcome the grants of £18,000 to hospitality and £6,000 to non-essential retail that will let them re-open safely, and allow thousands across Rutland and Melton to return to work.

"The freeze in fuel duty is important for us all locally. In a rural area, life is all too often dependent on the ability to drive; for work, to shop and to see friends and family.

"Of course, pubs are the heart of our communities, and the extension of the 5% VAT rate to September, and the freezing of alcohol duty, are both measures I have pushed for to protect rural hospitality businesses.

"This budget prepares the UK's economy to re-open, for good. It is a good thing for the people of Rutland and Melton."