LAST month, we saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer get to his feet to deliver the last ever autumn statement.

It was an important one, because it was his first and the first since Theresa May became Prime Minister.

Traditionally, the autumn statement is the opportunity for the Treasury to set out next year’s estimates of government spending and report on the fiscal strength of the country.

In recent years, it has also become a mini-budget with consecutive Chancellors announcing specific economic measures which affect us all.

Because of this, the Chancellor decided to abolish the autumn statement – replacing it with a spring statement with the traditional tax and spending announcements made once a year, at the Budget.

As a local MP, my role in the run-up to events like this is to try to progress West Worcestershire priorities, ranging from education and health-service spending to investment in our local infrastructure like roads and rail.

It is good news that there will be money allocated to the Worcestershire LEP to invest in local growth projects and we all look forward to seeing the detail on this in due course.

It was also good to see £1 billion extra allocated to improving digital infrastructure and helping to get as many homes and business as possible able to access superfast connections.

The Chancellor announced that the National Living Wage will increase to £7.50 from April next year giving full-time workers the equivalent of a £500 annual pay rise.

The fuel-duty escalator has been frozen again, helping to keep fuel prices lower at the pumps and offering some good news for commuters and those who drive for work.

Small businesses have welcomed the news on rate relief for businesses – especially those in rural areas – which could be worth savings of up to £2,900 a year for small traders.

Six years ago, the economy was on the brink of collapse, with the highest budget deficit in our peacetime history. Tough decisions were taken to tackle that deficit, painstakingly rebuilding Britain’s shattered fiscal credibility.

During those six years, we’ve seen crime fall by more than a quarter, the highest proportion ever of good or outstanding schools and record levels of employment for men and women across Worcestershire.

There is more to be done but the conditions are ideal for world-class Worcestershire to leap firmly on to the global stage.