Budget 2009
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 11:15, Mon 27 April 2009:
BUDGET 2009
The Chancellor delivered the Government’s Budget on Wednesday, which offers real help for those who need it most in these difficult economic times. For pensioners, an additional payment of £100 alongside the winter fuel payment for households with someone aged over 80, and £50 for households with someone aged over 60. Long term unemployed people will benefit from extra support – with a guarantee of a job, training or work placement if they reach 12 months unemployed. The stamp duty holiday, for properties costing up to £175,000 will be extended to the end of the year, and there will be a £600 million package of measures to help build much needed new homes. During the recession, it’s as important as ever to ensure we do what we can to tackle climate change, which is why the Government has announced the world’s first carbon budgets, and measures to encourage energy efficiency and green businesses. This is a frugal, sensible budget which reflects the economic circumstances while still ensuring people in need are helped.
ELECTRIC CARS
The Government has launched its strategy to promote ultra low carbon transport over the next five years. In 2011, we anticipate the mass introduction of electric and plug-in hybrid cars to the market , and the Government is proposing consumer incentives worth in the region of £2,000 - £5,000 to allow people the maximum choice when buying a car and to help make electric cars a real option for motorists. There are also plans to provide £20 million for charging points and related infrastructure to help develop a network of ‘electric car cities’ throughout the country. Of the UK’s 26 million cars, less than 0.1% are currently electric, meaning low carbon vehicles have huge potential to reduce our carbon emissions.
SRI LANKA
A number of residents have been in touch with me to express their concerns about the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka. The British Government is playing an active role, and is continuing to work with other countries to try to halt the fighting and ensure that civilians are safe. Unfortunately, many thousands of civilians have got caught up in the conflict area, in the north-east of the island. The Prime Minister has appointed a special envoy for the country, and our Government hopes to aid a fully inclusive political solution to the conflict, which has run for almost thirty years. Des Browne, the Prime Minister’s special envoy, has met with members of the Tamil community in the UK. We will continue to do all we can, working with our partners and the United Nations, to try to ensure peace, and the safety of civilians.
TRANSPORT MINISTER VISITS BRISTOL
I was delighted that the Transport Minister, Paul Clark, was able to come to Bristol today for a ‘cycling tour’ and experience for himself some popular cycling routes across the city. His visit comes as improvements and changes begin to be made to our cycle network as part of Bristol’s Cycling City programme which is receiving over £11 million of Government funding. As well as improving the infrastructure and facilities for existing cyclists, a main aim of the project is to make cycling more accessible and attractive to encourage many more Bristol residents to choose cycling as a method of transport.
ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any queries about these issues, or have a question you would like to ask about anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email me at primarolod@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH. Alternatively, for more information on what’s happening in and around Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.
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