In his regular column for the Hereford Times, North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggins welcomes the Chancellor's Budget boost of hop growers, cider makers and pubs in his constituency

Last week’s Spring Budget was a good one for North Herefordshire.

In particular, the Chancellor has made a very welcome commitment to freeze the duty rates on wine, spirits, beer and cider. North Herefordshire is famous for its hop and cider production, and for our beautiful pubs.

All of these businesses will benefit greatly from the freeze as they re-open in the coming months.

Young people can move on from ‘generation rent’ to ‘generation buy’ with 5 per cent deposits.

There are much needed restart grants to help our businesses get going again.

Non-essential retail businesses will re-open first and therefore receive grants of up to £6,000, while hospitality and leisure businesses will likely open later and so receive grants of up to £18,000.

The Government is also providing local councils with £425 million discretionary funding to support other local businesses.

I welcome that personal tax thresholds will be maintained at their current levels.

The Income Tax Personal Allowance has doubled over the last decade to £12,500, standing now as the highest basic personal tax allowance of any G20 country and meaning a typical basic rate taxpayer now pays £1,200 less tax than in 2010.

I was pleased to see a small drop in the number of people in North Herefordshire claiming unemployment benefits.

As we begin to unlock and our country gets back on its feet, I hope that the people in my constituency who have found themselves without work through no fault of their own will once again be able to feel the security that having a job brings.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact, with the hospitality industry particularly hard hit.

For those struggling to find work, the Budget brings a continuation of the temporary Universal Credit uplift.

The Budget also confirms new support for providing young people with new skills: including £126 million to triple the number of traineeships next year.

I am being told that over that last month, progress on the repairs of the B4224 at Fownhope have been very promising.

Herefordshire Council have previously indicated that they hope the works to be completed by April 12.

We all want this crucial stretch of road reopened as soon as possible – perhaps even ahead of the new scheduled opening date.

This will make it well over one year since the road closure and residents of Fownhope and the surrounding areas need their important travel link back and I look forward to seeing this happen soon.