South Yorkshire's Mayor 'happy' with yesterday's Autumn Budget
Oliver Coppard reckons it was full of 'small wins' for people in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham
South Yorkshire's Mayor tells us he's 'welcoming' fresh pledges from the government to 'help renew' the region's supertram network.
Yesterday - Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed trams in Sheffield & Rotherham will get a slice of 1.3 billion pounds worth of national funding - with the aim of improving city region transport.
Oliver Coppard says Wednesday's Autumn's Budget was 'promising' for people in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley & Rotherham:
"Ahead of the Budget, we have worked closely with Ministers, from the Prime Minister down. This Budget represents a significant change in the way the Government works with South Yorkshire and local leaders.
"An integrated, departmental-style funding settlement for South Yorkshire will deepen devolution and allow us to align South Yorkshire's priorities with the way we spend our money.
"As we look to improve our buses here in South Yorkshire, increased funding for bus services is vital to safeguard the services that so many of our communities rely on. We look forward to further engagement with Ministers as we work to secure a fair deal for South Yorkshire after our region lost out so significantly under the previous government. The money committed to renew South Yorkshire’s Supertram network is very welcome news.
"We look forward to working with Government on the Get Britain Working white paper. Our pioneering Pathways to Work Commission would allow us to lead the way in tackling the work, health and skills barriers that have prevented people here making the most of their talents for far too long.
"The Government’s announcement on the mineworkers pension scheme is a promise kept to those who worked so hard to power our country. South Yorkshire could not be more proud of our industrial heritage and I am grateful this Budget has put right a wrong that has hurt former mineworkers in South Yorkshire for far too long.
"In Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield, we have been fixing the foundations for years. While this is only the first step, it is clear we now have a Government that is working with us to deliver on our shared mission to restore the pride, purpose and prosperity of South Yorkshire."
Outgoing Tory leader Rishi Sunak claims the budget's full of "broken promises" - with working people having to pay the price.