Thanks to the long-term decisions taken by the Conservative Government, this April has seen an exciting package of tax cuts, pay increases and cost of living support that will benefit people across the Forest of Dean. I wanted to update my constituents on these changes and how they might benefit you.
Tax cuts this month have placed £450 back into the pockets of the average worker on £35,400, saving them £900 alongside the tax cuts delivered last year. Additionally, the National Living Wage has increased this month to £11.44, an increase of 9.8 per cent for those on the lowest pay, equivalent to an annual pay boost of £1,800, or £150 a month, for 2.7 million workers. I welcome this pay increase as part of our long-term plan to make work pay, under which the minimum wage has doubled since 2010.
The Government also recognises that raising a child can be costly, and that is why we have cut the High-Income Child Benefit Charge, putting up to £1,664 back into the pockets of hardworking families. Going further still, since the 1st April eligible working parents of two-year-olds have been able to access 15 hours of childcare support per week. This will be expanded in September for parents of children aged nine months to when they start school.
Support is also being provided to businesses, in particular small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. The Government has frozen business rates for the fourth year in a row, reducing the amount businesses pay for their property, to support them as the economy begins to turn a corner. By freezing business rates for the fourth year in a row, we are saving a typical independent pub £11,800, helping to keep the price of a pint down, with the average café saving £5,700, delivering on our plan to cut inflation.
Finally, to support pensioners, who are in a unique position in that they cannot work to top up their income to cover the increased cost of living, the Government are committed to the triple lock, which guarantees that the state pension will never increase by less than inflation. Since 2010, when the triple lock was introduced, the state pension has increased by £5,700, £990 more than if it had just been uprated by inflation, assisting pensioners to live with dignity.
These long-term decisions have this month enabled an increase in the state pension, pay increases for those on the Living Wage, tax cuts for workers, tax cuts for families and a business rates freeze, delivering on our plan to create a brighter future for you, your family and those across the Forest of Dean.
This column was first published in The Forester newspaper.