May 2009
The biggest issue facing us locally and throughout the country remains the economy and the most important event relating to this in the last month has been Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Budget. It is the task of everyone to focus entirely on this and the policies flowing from it and not be blown off course by either irrelevant personal attacks on opponents or sterile debates on constitutional issues which do not relate to the quality of life of the Welsh and British people.
The big picture across the world is positive. The G20 Economic Summit achieved global agreements including significantly massive reductions in nuclear arsenals by the US and Russia. US President Obama has also made important peace initiatives in Latin America, Cuba and with Iran.
This week’s Budget has the potential of not only determining the result of the next General Election but the shape of the British economy and of British politics for the coming decade.
I welcome this Budget and warmly endorse the statement by the TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, ‘There is much to welcome in this Budget, particularly action on youth unemployment, some first steps in creating a fair tax system and better support for the unemployed’.
The key elements of the Budget, against a background of the British economy recovering at the end of this year, include:-
- Improvements in pensions, savings, child credit and other benefits;
- Kick-starting the housing market by offering £500 million to stalled housing plans and also a welcome £50 million extra for improvements for the Armed Services;
- More to help the jobless, with under-25s who have been jobless for more than a year being guaranteed a job, work experience or training.
- A scrappage scheme under which motorists would be given an incentive of up to £2,000 to buy a new car.
- Priority given to build the green and knowledge economies in the regions and nations across the country, particularly through the new Strategic Investment Fund.
- Protection of overseas aid budgets which has been strongly welcomed by Oxfam and other charitable aid agencies.
In summary this 2009 Budget is a strong and fair commitment by our Labour Government to rebuilding public finances, protecting public services and supporting jobs, homes and the most vulnerable, especially pensioners and children.
As Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee I have been busy working on important legislative proposals relating to carers and the Welsh language and we are about to start work on mental health and environmental proposals. The Committee has also held inquiries into the Legal Services Commission in Wales, cross border transport and on broadcasting.
You can contact me at my Constituency Office: Eagle House, 2 Talbot Road, Port Talbot SA13 1DH Tel: 01639 897660 Fax: 01639 891725 or email me at [email protected]
