I very much hope that the Christmas season will be a happy time for my constituents with a chance to slow down and spend time with friends and family. But for some, Christmas can be difficult. Those who have suffered bereavement can find the festive season a painful reminder of the loss of a loved one. My father died in the summer and I and my family will miss him more than ever when Christmas Day comes around.
At this time of the year, we should also think of our servicemen and women in Afghanistan, far away from their families on Christmas Day. We should be very proud of their professionalism, dedication and courage in the face of grave personal danger. And we have heroes closer to home as well who will be apart from their families this Christmas.
I would like to pay tribute to the people working in essential services over the festive season, including in the NHS, the Ambulance Service, the Fire Service and the Police. I thank them for the work they do.
As 2013 draws to a close, this gives us all the chance to reflect on what’s happened over the year. We have had the welcome news that the economy is on the road to recovery, with unemployment falling and growth returning. Over 1.4 million jobs have been created in the private sector and the deficit is down by a third.
However, there’s no doubt that times remain tough for many families. That’s why the Government is acting to help hard working people with household bills by raising tax thresholds to give millions of the lowest paid an income tax cut. We’ve also taken action to lift a number of the green levies on energy bills knocking £50 off bills. We’ve frozen fuel duty and Council Tax. Most important of all, our deficit reduction programme has kept interest rates at record lows.
I would like to wish all my constituents a very Happy Christmas and prosperous and successful 2014.