News - Page 233

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that his Autumn Statement budget plan, in which he announced tens of billions in tax rises and spending cuts, provided a “balanced path to stability” He also made it clear that his priorities were stability, growth and public services. Here are the key facts of the

Local authorities are considering their options as they await the full impact of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on budget plans for the next financial year. As billions in tax rises and spending cuts were announced by Jeremy Hunt, councils across the county were getting ready to drill down into the

A rallying call has gone out to businesses to sign up to a charter which will help prevent and reduce violence against women and girls across the Staffordshire.  A recent survey found that 67 per cent of females have experienced harassment, intimidation or violence in a public place. The survey also showed

Businesses have called on the Chancellor to provide a clear plan for investment and growth after the UK’s inflation rate rose to 11.1 per cent in October – a 41 year high. The figure – mainly down to rising energy and food prices – has surprised many economists who expected

A new British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) survey has found almost half of SMEs say they will find it difficult to pay their energy bills once the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme ends on 31 March 2023. A further 4% say they will not be able to pay their energy bills at all, while 37% predict they will

A group of economists has questioned UK assertions that a “black hole” in the public finances will need to be filled with austerity measures and tax rises. The Progressive Economy Forum, which campaigns to end austerity, claims that the £50bn “hole” disappears entirely if the debts are calculated differently. The

Business commuters could have smoother journeys to work thanks to road repair trials carried out by Staffordshire County Council’s highways teams. An innovative patching machine which heats up the road and allows maintenance to be carried out in extremely cold weather has been tested in the south of the county.