EAST Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has welcomed key announcements in this week’s autumn budget and spending review which he said were “especially significant for East Hampshire”.

Mr Hinds said retail, hospitality and leisure were particular winners, with many firms to benefit from a rates freeze and cancellation of next year’s planned increase in the business rate multiplier.

“This will be welcome news for the many local pubs, restaurants and cafés that are working hard to recover from the impact of the pandemic,” added Mr Hinds.

Reforms to alcohol duties will boost pubs, with the emphasis on draught beer and sparkling wine.

Mr Hinds said: “While the headlines may be about Prosecco, local English wine producers will welcome the end of the duty premium for sparkling wines, supporting a key growth sector across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent – a case I put to the exchequer secretary recently.”

The MP believed freezing fuel duty for the 12th year in a row was important in East Hampshire and said it had saved the average driver £1,900 since 2010.

Help for low-income families with the cost of living will come through reducing the Universal Credit taper rate from 63 per cent to 55 per cent, giving a £1,000 a year pay rise to two million of the country’s lowest-paid people.

The national living wage is up to £9.50 per hour and there has been a lifting of pay constraints for public sector workers.

Mr Hinds said: “I was personally especially pleased with the cut in the taper rate. It was something we worked on while I was at the Department for Work and Pensions as employment minister, but this is a really big step, bringing Universal Credit in line with the original design anticipated before the fiscal tightening needed in 2010 after the crash of 2008.”

Other significant announcements included ongoing commitment to research and development, a multi-year funding settlement for new housing, police recruitment, and support for special needs and early years education.