The MP for Malvern says today’s Budget will help grow the economy.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt set out a range of measures designed to help people get back to work, including free childcare for working parents from eight months, and the abolition of pension caps to encourage NHS consultants and GPs to retire later.

The Government also confirmed that emergency support to help people with their high energy bills will be extended till the summer.

Official figures show that inflation is projected to fall to 2.9 per cent by the end of this year and that the economy will not go into recession.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin offered her backing to the measures - and said she would also be scrutinising them in detail.

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She said: “The Chancellor has set out a clear plan to help the economy grow this year.

“I’ve been particularly encouraged to see the measures to help people back into the workplace including the extension of free childcare for working parents and the ending of pension caps.

“Locally, I welcome the extra financial help for swimming pools, pubs and drivers.

“It is great to hear that the Chancellor is able to report that the economy will be avoiding recession this year and that inflation is back on the way down. 

“Inflation hits the lowest paid the most and lower inflation will help to reduce the number of unsustainable wage demands causing strikes this year.

“I look forward to seeing the Chancellor coming before the Treasury Select Committee, which I chair, to scrutinise his plans in more detail in the coming weeks.”

Charities have complained that carers and the homeless were ignored in the Budget on Wednesday.

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As part of his announcements, Jeremy Hunt said £500 million allocated to dealing with potholes would be increased by a further £200 million next year to help communities “tackle this problem”.

But Jackie O’Sullivan, from learning disability charity Mencap, said the spring statement had “included absolutely nothing to tackle the dire state of social care and the NHS”.

She added: “Instead, the Chancellor prioritised crumbling roads over the crumbling social care and health system.”

Age UK said it was “deeply frustrated that the Chancellor spurned the opportunity to invest more in social care, especially given his avowed aim of removing the barriers to work among those who are economically inactive in the absence of a good, reliable and affordable care service being available”.