December 2008
The big news in Parliament and throughout the country has been the Labour Government's decisive response to the global banking crisis. It is appropriate that Chancellor Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Statement is called 'Facing Global Challenges: Supporting the people through difficult times'.
We already know that the economic downturn is affecting steel and the automotive industries which are big employers locally. I am glad that the Government in Westminster and Cardiff are working together through the Welsh Economic Summits to ensure that the views of the Welsh CBI, Wales TUC and Welsh local government are properly recognised.
The Chancellor has announced that £20 billion will be invested in the economy. There will be a one-year cut in VAT of 2.5% putting £12.4 billion into the economy. Household income will be improved with £145 to every basic rate tax payer, every pensioner will get £60 in January as well as carers (on top of their £10 Christmas bonus)
Child benefit will rise to £20 in January instead of April and child credit will rise by £75 a year being given in April above indexation.
In Wales 195,000 small and medium sized businesses will benefit from more loans and deferred tax payments and exempting empty commercial properties from business rates. £1.3 billion extra help will also be given to job centres to get people back to work.
The Labour Government's action to stimulate the economy – just as Roosevelt did in the 1930s – is supported by parties on the left and the right in every continent, by the major countries of the world, the Bank of England and by international financial institutions such as the IMF.
Recently I saw a travelling exhibition called 'Never Again? Thinking about the Holocaust.' It was a terrible reminder of the racial hatred peddled by Hitler and Moseley and others in the past and the danger represented today by those who hide behind slogans like 'we have forgotten about the white working class'.
It is the task of all decent people to challenge the belief that our social and economic problems are caused by immigrants or people of colour or who speak a different language from our own. There is only one race, the human race.
I was delighted with the success of the Bryn Primary School and their £49,431 win from the Big Lottery Fund. ITV Wales viewers voted for their outstanding 'Health and Fitness though Learning' project which will include a trim trail and a multi-sensory garden.
Could I wish everyone an enjoyable and restful Christmas break and a peaceful New Year.
