Chancellor George Osborne has been applauded for pro-business measures in his Spending Review.
Business groups welcomed announcements relating to transport, apprenticeships, energy and science and technology.
Among the measures, Mr Osborne will increase capital spending on transport by 50% to £61bn. He confirmed that the government is pressing ahead with the electrification of the TransPennine rail line through Huddersfield and has pledged £300m for cycling and £5bn on road maintenance.
On training, the UK’s biggest employers face an apprenticeship levy from April, 2017, set at 0.5% of their wage bill to raise £3bn and fund up to three million apprentices.
Steven Leigh, head of policy at the Huddersfield-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are very pleased that the Chancellor is to rebuild the roads to some tune. Businesses depend on the roads to get goods and services around the country. We’re pleased also to hear confirmation that the electrification of the TransPennine railway will proceed.
“We’re pleased that he’s going to try to double the number of apprentices, although it’s not just about the numbers but the quality of apprenticeships that counts.”
READ MORE:
