Harry Cohen
UPDATE FROM THE COMMONS
As we welcome in the New Year it is traditional that people look back over the past twelve months and forward to the next twelve. In Warrington we have continued to see good economic times and I have no doubt that this will continue into 2004. Today inflation is at its lowest for thirty years, mortgage rates are at their lowest for forty years and more people are in work than ever before.
The Government has strived to build a strong economy and a fair society where there is opportunity and security and the country is in good shape to seize the opportunities of the emerging world recovery whilst helping parents balance work and family life. Recently announced measures will help to do just that.
Child Tax Credit is already benefiting 8,200 recipients in my constituency and from April 2004 the child element will increase to £1,625 per year – a weekly increase of £3.50. This should benefit 7.2 million children in the UK.
Employers will also be able to offer all their employees £50 a week for approved child care – this will be free of both employee tax and national insurance and free of employer national insurance. Unemployment has fallen by 51% since 1997 in Warrington North alone, and providing more childcare support will help even more local people go back to work.
I understand that the take up of Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit has significantly increased as the year has gone on which represent very good news for the families claiming these benefits. If you’ve not claimed you should do so.
On 10th December the latest update on the progress of the new Pension Credit was announced. Pension Credit guarantees all pensioners a minimum income, and then – for the very first time – rewards those who’ve missed out in the past because they have managed to save a little for their retirement. Across the country more than 2.4 million pensioners are now receiving it. In Warrington North, we’ve now got over 4,000 individuals receiving Pension Credit, and they are receiving an average £43.51 every week. I would urge anyone who has not claimed to do so – it’s easy, just call free phone 0800 991234. Dedicated staff take details and then fill out and send a completed form to pensioners who simply need to check, sign and return it.
Action is also to be taken to do more for local authority council tax payers. From April 2004, there will be an allocation across the UK – free of ring-fencing – for local authorities as they set their budgets, an additional £406 million additional cash to meet the needs and concerns of council tax payers.
I can only touch on a few of these issues in one column but as I do think that the strategy of helping families and communities, whilst strengthening the economy, has been successful and although there is still much to be done we have reaped the benefits and rewards of those policies during 2003.
You can contact me by letter at Gilbert Wakefield House, 67 Bewsey Street, WA2 7JQ; by phone on 01925 232 480; by fax on 01925 232 239; or by e-mail – jonesh@parliament.uk.
Finally may I take the opportunity to wish you all a prosperous and happy New Year.
