Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick
Raynsford has welcomed the Budget as delivering real help now
to get people, especially the young, quickly back into work, and
support businesses and homeowners facing
problems.
The Budget also
supports investment in regeneration and hosing,
and in the growth industries of the
future on which Britain’s success will be built.
Speaking
shortly after the Chancellor delivered the 2009 Budget, Nick
Raynsford said:
“ It's quite
clear that Government intervention has
been and remains essential to recovery.
If we don’t act now, it will cost us all
so much more in the long run. That's why I welcome today’s
Budget because it focuses on jobs today and jobs in
the future.
“This Budget
will help us deal with the economic difficulties and support jobs,
families, businesses and the environment.
It builds on the support already coming
through from the cuts in income tax and VAT and the sustained
investment in infrastructure and public
services.
"Labour
is doing all it can to help people in Greenwich and
Woolwich through this recession - at national level with the
Budget, at a local level by freezing council tax and
charges and in Europe, by protecting the rights of workers.
We always have been and always will be, on your
side."
The Budget
announced
• Support for
employment
For Jobcentre Plus and the Flexible New Deal, and the offer a
guaranteed job, training or work placement for all 18-24 year olds
who reach 12 months unemployed.
• Support for
individuals
An increase in the annual investment limit for Individual Savings
Accounts (ISAs) to £10,200, up to £5,100 of which can be saved in
cash.
-
Winter Fuel Payment worth £100 for households with
someone aged over 80 and £50 for households with someone aged over
60 – which will support 12,310 people in Greenwich and
Woolwich.
-
Pension Credit: the amount of savings pensioners
can have before it affects their benefits such as the Pensions
Credit will be raised from £6,000 to £10,000. The Pension Credit
helps 4210 households in Greenwich and
Woolwich.
• Support for homeowners and
homebuyers
With a £600 million funding package of measures to build more
homes, and an extension of the stamp duty holiday for all houses
costing up to £175,000 until the end of the year;
• Support for the
environment
Setting the world’s first carbon budgets
and measures to encourage energy efficiency and low-carbon
growth.
