YORK Outer MP Julian Sturdy has hailed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget for supporting the hospitality industry – and for finding £5.9 billion to tackle NHS backlogs.

And he has also welcomed money - up to £50,000 - to pay for ‘early-stage proposals’ to reinstate passenger rail links between Beverley and York.

Conservative MP Mr Sturdy said: “I have campaigned hard for assistance to help York’s large retail, hospitality and leisure sector recover from covid, and therefore warmly welcome the Chancellor’s introduction of a special 50 per cent business rates discount up to £110,000 for 12 months for these industries, safeguarding jobs and small enterprises on local high streets.

“However, there is still more to do to reduce business rates unfairness, and I will continue pushing the Chancellor to accelerate his work on this.”

On the NHS, Mr Sturdy said: “The danger of a backlog in routine NHS surgery and procedures from covid has been a real concern of mine, so I really welcome the £5.9 billion of earmarked funding for new NHS operating theatres, facilities and equipment to beat the backlog.”

Mr Sturdy also welcomed the reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate, which he said would see low-income households better off by more than £1,000 a year.

And he said he was ‘delighted’ about the possibility of reinstating passenger trains between York and Beverley.

“This is very welcome news for York and the wider region,” he said.

“I have been campaigning for the reopening of the York to Beverley line since I was first elected and commend the tireless passion of local supporters of this project, without whom this bid would not have been possible.”