Budget raises hopes of road and care improvements in Cumbria

In his first Budget, he announced £90 million to tackle transport pinch points across the North, a move that’s bound to see pressure piled on for routes such as the A595.

Infrastructure was one of the direct references to the North as part of a Budget that included an emergency £435m package to help pubs and other firms facing major hikes in their business rates.

In his first Budget, Mr Hammond set out help – including a £1,000 cut in rates for most pubs – in response to widespread anger and political pressure over the revaluation process that has prompted serious fears among many Cumbrian companies.

The Chancellor also confirmed another £2bn – over three years – to tackle social care issues across the country.

Council and care chiefs in Cumbria, with its ageing population, have serious concerns about the increasing demands on – and costs of – adult social care in the county.

Mr Hammond also announced that £1bn of this money for social care would be available in this financial year.

“This will allow local authorities to act now to set up new care packages,” he said.

“As the voters of Copeland so clearly understood, we are the party of the NHS.”

The money for care, with £1 billion promised in 2017/18, follows intense pressure from MPs and councils, but falls short of the levels of funding demanded by some campaigners.

Mr Hammond acknowledged the system was “clearly under pressure”, with the NHS suffering as a consequence.

He said that, alongside the additional funding, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid will announce measures to identify and support councils which are “struggling” and to ensure more “joined-up working” with the NHS.

The Chancellor also announced a £100m plan to ease the pressure in hospital A&E departments.

Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast that the economy should grow by two per cent in the next financial year, up from the 1.4 per cent predicted in the Autumn Statement.

It is expected to fall in 2018 to 1.6 per cent before growing every year following until reaching two per cent again in 2021.

Mr Hammond rejected Labour calls to boost borrowing saying: “We on this side of the House will not saddle our children with ever increasing debts.”

Businesses coming out of Small Business Rates relief will not see their bills rise by more than £50 a month and local authorities will also be given money via a £300m fund to help tough cases in their areas.

“A strong economy needs a fair, stable and competitive tax system. My ambition is for the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business,” Mr Hammond said.

There will also be a consultation on reform of the revaluation process.

Mr Hammond said higher-paid self-employed workers will face rises of around 60p a week, raising an extra £145m a year for the Exchequer by 2021-22. Tax thresholds are also to rise with the rate for the basic rate now set at £11,500 and £45,000 higher rate.

There will be no change to previously planned upratings of duties on alcohol and tobacco, which will rise by two per cent above the Retail Price Index inflation measure. But a new minimum excise duty is to be introduced on cigarettes based on a packed price of £7.35.

Mr Hammond also committed £5m for “returnships” to help people back into work after a career break as well as £5m to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women being granted the vote in 1918.

labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the Chancellor of delivering a Budget showing “utter complacency” over the state of the economy.

He claimed Mr Hammond failed to understand the realities of daily life for millions of people and the “crisis” facing public services.

Mr Corbyn said: “This was a Budget of utter complacency about the state of our economy.”