Staffordshire County Council's Leader, Philip Atkins, has welcomed a range of measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his mini-budget yesterday (Wednesday).

The measures, which were introduced in an effort to create jobs and battle rising unemployment levels, include:

• A jobs retention scheme, offering a bonus of £1,000 for firms who take back furloughed staff
• A Kick-Start scheme to reward businesses for employing 18 to 24-year-olds
• A stamp duty holiday on houses under £500,000
• VAT on the hospitality industry cut to five per cent temporarily for food, accommodation and attractions
• Eat Out to Help Out discounts in August

Responding to the announcement, Cllr Atkins praised the new measures as "great".

He said: "After months of uncertainty for many businesses and families, it is hugely important that we do everything we can to reboot the economy, get people back to work and give people more money in their pockets to spend.

"Here in Staffordshire, we are committed to doing everything to fire up our economy, so it was great to see new and immediate measures to help us do just that.

"And while it is important that we all continue to play our part in preventing a second peak of infections by following the safety advice we can, and we all should, support our local economy."

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cllr Atkins also called for the Government to find "sustainable funding solutions" for the authority.

It comes after the county council reported a forecast overspend of £10.1m, mostly brought about due to the impact of Covid-19 on Staffordshire.

Cllr Atkins added: "It is clear that the financial impact on this county, on business and our families will be felt for some time to come so it is imperative therefore that long term sustainable funding solutions are found for local government, particularly around care services, which is why we are working hard with government to inform the Spending Review expected later in the year."

Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley has also welcomed the changes.

She said: "We should not underestimate how difficult recent months have been for many businesses in Staffordshire Moorlands. Now that the virus is coming under control, we must turn our attention to creating and protecting jobs.

"I hope that everyone in the Moorlands will answer the call to Eat Out to Help Out. This fantastic new voucher scheme, along with the cut in VAT, is the much-needed lifeline many businesses have been calling for.

"Our plan for jobs will turn our national recovery into millions of stories of personal renewal – as the Conservatives continue to stand squarely behind people, businesses and our economy."

Karen added: "Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the Conservative Government has stood squarely behind people and businesses with one of the largest and most comprehensive packages of support anywhere in the world.

"As we turn our attention to carefully reopening our economy, it is right that the Chancellor is doing everything in his power to support, protect and create jobs. Our plan will be a lifeline for countless people and businesses across the Moorlands.

"By levelling up the whole country, we will give businesses the confidence to retain and hire, create jobs in every region and ensure young people have the opportunity of a better start."