Matthew has warmly welcomed today's Spending Review and Autumn Statement which will continue the Government's programme to rebuild our economy, reform our country and protect our national security.

• No cuts in the police budget, delivering on the Conservative commitment to help the police protect our nation.
• No cuts to tax credits due to the improvement in the nation’s finances as a result of the Government's long-term economic plan.
• The biggest real terms rise in the basic State Pension in 15 years. Next year the basic state pension will rise by £3.35 to £119.30 a week.
• Full funding of the Five Year Forward View put forward by the NHS as the plan for its future with the first £6 billion delivered up-front next year.
• The biggest house building programme by any government since the 1970s. Our plan to back families who aspire to buy their own home will deliver 400,000 affordable new homes by the end of the decade.
• Average saving of £30 from the projected energy bills of 24 million households by introducing a cheaper domestic energy efficiency scheme.
• The largest ever investment in free childcare so working families get the help they need. From 2017, there will be 30 hours of free childcare for working families with three and four year olds.
• Increase the cash in the dedicated schools grant, open 500 new free schools and University Technical Colleges, and invest £23 billion in school buildings and 600,000 new school places.
• New apprenticeship levy to deliver 3 million apprenticeships. We will also increase funding for apprenticeships to make sure they are high quality apprenticeships.

• Abolish the uniform business rate. By the end of the parliament local government will keep all of the revenue from business rates and councils will be able to cut rates to attract new businesses.

Commenting Matthew said: "This Autumn Statement is very good news for my constituents in Hendon. I am delighted that the Chancellor has listened to representations from myself and others about the need to support the police in their job to cut crime. While it may be considered bold for an MP to stand up in the Commons chamber and reject proposals, I have found it more productive to have private conversations with ministers and their officials to achieve the results we all want.

"I also welcome the help for working people with inceased free childcare, cheaper energy bills and no cuts to tax credits. By taking difficult and sometimes painful decisions to live within our means and bring down our debts down, we are able to commit to extra funding for the NHS, school places, house building, apprenticeships and pensions. And we will protect our national security by defending our country’s interests abroad and keeping our citizens safe at home.”