THE MP for West Devon and Torridge Geoffrey Cox has welcomed the news, announced in the Autumn Statement recently, that 2,000 business properties in West Devon will benefit from a package to help the high street and support businesses.

The package includes a business rate discount of up to £1,000 for retail premises, including shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, which will help the high street, boosting jobs and growth in West Devon.

Measures announced include a two percent cap on everyone's business rate increases, £1,000 off business rate bills for all retail premises with a rateable value up to £50,000 for 2014/15 and 2015/16, including shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, a new re-occupation relief, which will halve the rates bills of businesses taking over premises empty for over a year, and the doubling of Small Business Rate Relief is being extended to April 2015 and expanded.

The Autumn Statement also announced that next year's fuel duty rise will be cancelled, and as a result petrol will be 20ppl less than under the previous Government's plans and employers' National Insurance Contributions will be wiped out altogether for young people under the age of 21. The cost of employing an under-21 year old on £12,000 a year will fall by over £500, or for someone on £16,000 by over £1,000.

Mr Cox said: 'Following recent meetings with chambers of commerce across my constituency, I have urged the Government to listen to calls from local businesses and I am delighted that the chancellor has responded. This backing for the high street is really good news.

'Two thousand businesses in West Devon will benefit from the overall package of support — especially the shops, pubs, and cafes in our market towns. High street businesses are a vital part of local life and this Autumn Statement gives them real support.'