CENTRAL DEVON MP Mel Stride has welcomed a range of government measures that came into effect last week as the new tax year begins.

On April 6 the tax-free personal allowance has risen for the seventh year to £11,500, taking 116,000 of the lowest-paid workers in the region out of income tax altogether and giving 2.7-million people in the South West a tax break of around £200 a year.

Someone with a salary of £15,000 will now pay just £800 a year in tax, compared to £1,705 in 2010.

Mr Stride said: ‘For a county like Devon with some of the lowest average wages in the country, the government measures coming into effect today will make a big difference to many hard-working local families.

‘The increase in the National Living Wage to £7.50 an hour will mean a full-time worker on that income will get a £500 pay rise, leaving them £700 a year better off since they will also be paying £200 less in income tax. The Prime Minister is determined to deliver an economy that works for everyone and this is a step in the right direction.’

Other measures that came into effect last week were the roll out of tax-free childcare, which will provide up to £2,000 a year per child to help with childcare costs and a market leading NS&I bond which will pay 2.2% on deposits up to £3,000, providing a boost for hard pressed savers.