We are moving in the right direction | Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage
And yet, as the weather warms, infection rates fall and the coronavirus becomes a less dominating presence in our everyday lives, we are now fighting back against its impact on a number of fronts.
A number of recent government spending commitments have started to put the wheels in motion on the economic recovery.
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Hide AdAs Minister for Digital and Culture, I am delighted that this month we secured £1.57bn of funding for our world-class cultural, arts, and heritage institutions.
This investment could be a potential lifeline for valued venues across our area like the Kings Theatre and the Mary Rose Museum which face financial uncertainty.
Last week, the Chancellor unveiled a plethora of packages for jobs and growth. This included a new kick-starter scheme to accelerate youth employment and an all-important investment for apprenticeships and traineeships.
This month I met with constituents who are concerned that we have a green recovery from coronavirus. I am delighted that among the announcements were further measures on making homes more environmentally friendly – including a new Green Homes Grant and a pilot scheme to decarbonise social housing. In addition, as we approach the summer holidays, the government is taking an innovative approach to get consumers spending again.
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Hide AdVAT will be slashed by 15 per cent across the hospitality sector – benefitting our plentiful fantastic local restaurants, pubs, museums and theatres.
The Treasury has also cooked up the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, giving customers the chance of getting 50 per cent off their bill Monday-Wednesday.
In stark contrast to months previous, July feels like a month of movement. We are now beyond the peak of the virus and, although we must take care to keep safe, for the sake of our local communities, jobs and wellbeing, it’s important to take the first steps back towards life in the new normal.