My A to Z year – North Devon’s MP looks back on 2023

A for Anti-Social Behaviour – The Government cracked down on anti-social behaviour by introducing tougher penalties, higher fines and increasing police presence in anti-social behaviour hotspots.

B for Business Rates – In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor reduced Business Rates by 75 per cent for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

C for Childcare – Free childcare is on its way for two-year-olds from April and for nine-month-olds from September. Childcare is one of the biggest costs families face. Once fully rolled out expanded free childcare will save families up to £6,500 each year.

D for Dogs – I secured a slot to take forward legislation to stop Puppy Smuggling, I look forward to making this law next year. 

E for Earnings - Thanks to the National Living Wage and reductions in tax, working people on the lowest wages are taking home more than 25 per cent after inflation than they did in 2010.

F for Future High Street Fund – Following £6.5 million of Government Funding through the Future High Street Fund Barnstaple Pannier Market reopened in November.

G for Grid – It is now easier than ever for farmers to connect to the National Grid so they can generate their own renewable energy.

H for Hospital – North Devon District Hospital opened the new £2million Coronation Suite, which was visited by the Prime Minister in September. £1.2m was also allocated to the Hospital for healthcare worker housing with construction due to start in 2024.

I for Inflation - Inflation has more than halved from its peak, putting the economy on a more stable path and helping households. Thanks to a crackdown on breaching competition rules, prices at the petrol pumps have been dropping too.

J for Jobs – The employment rate is at a near record high with nearly 33 million people in work, four million more people since 2010. 

K for Keeping up - Universal Credit will increase by 6.7 per cent next year and pensions by 8.5 per cent, helping working people and pensioners to keep up with costs.

L for Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) – The LURA became law allowing councils to charge double council tax on second homes, and starting the process on the registration of short term lets.

M for Mariansleigh – Mariansleigh opened their new community kitchen in Oxham Hall following funding from the Government’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund.

N for National Insurance – The NI rate will reduce by two per cent in January, helping 27 million people across North Devon.

O for Online Safety – The new Online Safety Act contains world-leading measures to keep children and young people safe online, including bans on sharing online pornography with young people.

P for Police – There are over 600 more police across Devon and Cornwall, they are tackling crime and keeping us safe.

Q for Queen and King - A special year for King Charles and Queen Camilla, thank you to everyone who helped organise parties for the Coronation.

R for Roads – The Chancellor awarded Devon an extra £9,390,800 to fix potholes across the county.

S for Schools – Children in England are now ranked the best readers in the western world and are now 11th in the world for maths – up from 27th in 2009. 

T for Ticket Office – Successfully fought the closure of Barnstaple railway ticket office, which has the highest use in the South West!

U for Up to Westminster – I hosted businesses from across Exmoor at an exhibition in Westminster, where ministers, MPs and Lords alike were impressed by their fantastic goods.

V for Volunteers – There are so many community helpers around North Devon. Thank you to everyone who goes out of their way to help others and NDVS for all you do.

W for Watersports – With £3m of Government funding Ilfracombe’s Watersports Hub was opened by Levelling up Minister, Dehenna Davison.

xYz for Young People – There are many more opportunities for young people in North Devon including many apprenticeships and skills training courses.  Youth unemployment has almost halved since 2010.

I would like to wish all readers a very happy 2024.