19 December 2009
Pre- Budget Report Statement
In this week’s Pre Budget Report, the Chancellor Alistair Darling sets out the Government’s three-point plan for Britain’s future – securing the recovery and going for growth; taking tough choices necessary to half the deficit in four years – and protecting vital frontline public services. It’s the right plan for Britain and for Luton South.
The Government will continue support to keep people in work and in their homes by guaranteeing every young person out of work for more than six months the offer of a job, training or college place, and maintaining our support for people who lose their job to keep their homes.
They will continue support to businesses manage tough times by pressing the banks to start lending more to business and helping businesses to defer their tax payments until they can better afford to pay – a scheme which has helped 550 businesses in Luton to defer £12M. And they announced new measures that “go for growth”, making green growth a real priority for the nation’s future.
There is a proper plan to half the deficit, through a tax rise package that is tough but fair – with half of the burden falling the top 2% of people – and a spending cut package that has been carefully worked through, including tough action on public sector pay and new efficiency savings of £12bn per year. It will be the law to cut the deficit in half over four years.
Even in tough times, the Government will protect in real terms investment in the NHS frontline, Sure Start, frontline schools and police numbers over the next 3 years. This builds on our progress in Luton South over the last twelve years. Since 1997, the number of local teachers has gone up by 80 while police numbers in Bedfordshire have increased by 125.
Related news stories
- April 24 Margaret Welcomes Budget for Building Britain’s Future
- November 25 Margaret supports the government’s pre-budget statement to cut VAT and raise tax for top earners
- November 18 Need a little help with Bills this winter? Margaret has put together some fact sheets.
- November 25 Luton is the enterprise hub of Britain
- April 6 Getting the world economy back on track
