Joan Walley: An MPs week
THE extraordinary economic events of recent weeks require exceptional Government measures and in the pre-Budget report on Monday the Chancellor of the Exchequer laid out the Government's plans.
So what will this mean for us here in the constituency?
Firstly, the Government is to cut VAT from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent. This will benefit us all by cutting the cost of shopping, particularly welcome in the run-up to Christmas.
There is also to be a £145 tax cut for every basic rate taxpayer. Again much needed relief in these worrying economic times. I especially welcome the special payment to all pensioners in our constituency of £60 on top of the Christmas bonus of £10. Families of disabled children will also receive this extra cash boost.
More than 4,500 pensioners in the constituency will benefit from an increase in pension credit. On top of the £250 winter fuel payment for the over 60s and £400 for the over 80s, this is real relief as winter takes hold.
And all families will benefit from the increase in Child Benefit, which will start straight after Christmas, and the increase in Child Tax Credit will benefit more that 10,000 people here in Stoke-on-Trent North.
There was also help for our local businesses. I was delighted that the majority of businesses will be exempt from taxation on empty properties. This is a real issue for many local businesses and I have been lobbying hard for a number of months now and am delighted to have had some success. The Government will also speed up capital spending projects including £800 million to build new schools, £775 million to upgrade housing and £100 million to upgrade GP surgeries.
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