Chancellor makes post-budget visit to Lancashire

Chancellor George Osborne has visited the BAE Systems Military Air and Information site at Warton where he outlined how the budget would benefit SMEs in the county and help them invest and grow.

During the visit he also backed BAE's announcement that they will grow their number of UK apprentices in training to 2,000 by 2018.

"To businesses we say you're going to need to pay higher wages, but we're cutting your business taxes, to people, we're saying you're going to get a bigger pay check, but there's going to be less welfare, and for the country, we're saying there's going to be less spending, but we're going to live within our means and that will deliver economic security for people and more jobs.

"And it backs those middle-sized businesses, which are such an important backbone to Lancashire, by saying we're going to help you really invest in the future. So there are lots of good things in there for business.

"I'm a massive supporter of the Northern Powerhouse and Lancashire's at the heart of that.

"Here I am at one of the greatest employers in Lancashire, BAE, who've announced they're going to be creating 2,000 new apprentices and that is a great investment in the young people of this area.

By Sam Parker