It has been a busy start to the new year for Julian, with lots going on in Westminster and across Skipton and Ripon.
Perhaps the most significant news for households across Skipton and Ripon was the cut in National Insurance Contributions for 27 million working people, from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, including over 2.3 million people across Yorkshire and the Humber. For the average worker earning £35,000 annually, this will mean a tax cut of £450 each year. This is a really important step, possible thanks to the tough decisions made last year that resulted in inflation being more than halved.
It was these tough decisions that also allowed the Government to provide nearly 12 million cost of living payments to pensioners in the run up to Christmas, totalling over £4.8 billion and meaning that more than 99 per cent of eligible pensioners received up to £600 per household to help with their energy bills this Christmas, for the second year running.
This month, the Government also started the rollout of the largest ever expansion of childcare entitlements in the UK’s history. While England has some of the highest quality childcare provision in the world, with 96 per cent of early years settings rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding, it is also one of the biggest costs facing working families today. That’s why the Government is making the largest investment by any UK government in history, saving working parents up to £6,500 a year by doubling investment in childcare over the next few years to around £8 billion every year. It’s a really important announcement for families across Skipton and Ripon, with the rollout scheduled to ramp up until September 2025.
Julian also welcomed the news that North Yorkshire Council is one of eleven local authorities to share in £55 million to research health inequalities and improve health outcomes in local areas. It will help the Council to use evidence to inform their decision making by undertaking research and evaluation explicitly responding to the needs of local underserved groups and areas. Given the particular challenges of servicing rural areas like Skipton and Ripon, Julian was really pleased to see this funding come through.
Alongside this news, it’s been a busy month across the constituency. Visits to Roecliffe CE Primary School, Evolve Ripon and Skipton Girls’ High School have been informative and a great chance to meet some exceptional students and staff. Julian was also really pleased to welcome students from Kildwick CE Primary School and Skipton Girls’ High School to Parliament where, following a tour and workshop provided by the Education Centre, they were able to sit down with Julian and speak to him about his role and put their questions to him: covering everything from local priorities and funding to different political systems and his favourite school subject. Julian also met with Tynisha Abdy, CEO of Ripon-based Visible Autism Ltd, to discuss her work helping people with autism. She was instrumental in the opening last summer of the Quiet Zone at Lightwater Valley, which helps ease some of the challenges people with autism face when visiting for the day.
A particular highlight for Julian this month was meeting with an inspirational Skipton schoolboy, Luke Mortimer, who has been announced as the Prime Minister’s 2,238th Point of Light. The award is for outstanding individual volunteers who have contributed exceptionally to their community. When he was just seven, Luke became a quadruple amputee after contracting meningococcal meningitis septicaemia. He has since raised over £26,000 for Children in Need and LimbPower by climbing 656ft up Embsay Crag. Julian was able to present Luke with his award recently but, at their meeting, Luke made it clear he had no plans to stop there, as he eyes up the Yorkshire and National 3 Peaks challenges later this year.
As usual, Julian has also held regular surgery appointments across Skipton and Ripon. If there is anything that he can help you with, please do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]
