News story

8 November 2000

LOCAL MP RESPONDS TO PRE-BUDGET STATEMENT

Responding to today’s pre-Budget statement by the Chancellor, Northavon MP and Lib Dem Social Security spokesman Steve Webb said:

“I welcome the pension rises which the Chancellor has announced, which are a direct response to the pressure which we have been putting on the Government in Parliament as well as to highly effective lobbying by pensioners groups. However, after these increases to coincide with the General Election, the Government has admitted it will revert to linking the pension to prices. In other words, there is a real chance that once the election is over there will be repeats of the 75p pension rise insult which we saw this year; Furthermore, by introducing yet more schemes such as the pensioner tax credit, the Chancellor risks condemning pensioners to a lifetime of form-filling, simply to secure a decent income. Paying a decent basic state pension would be a much simpler and fairer strategy”.

Commenting on the measures for motorists, Steve Webb said:

“The cut in car tax for smaller and medium-sized cars is welcome, especially to people living in areas which are poorly served by public transport and for whom car ownership can be a necessity. I also welcome the fact that the Chancellor has accepted Liberal Democrat proposals which will ensure a more level playing field between foreign road hauliers and British hauliers. I am not convinced however that the emphasis on low sulphur petrol is necessarily good for the environment. I will be tabling questions in Parliament to find out whether the production of this petrol does not create environmental problems of its own”.

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