Reviewing the Budget plus local news & issues

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Putney MP Tony Colman keeps us up to date.....

The Budget 2005

This week has certainly been a busy one in Parliament. 16th March saw Gordon Brown’s Budget, which I think is good news for the people of Putney, Roehampton and Southfields.

Here is a brief run down of how the budget will benefit people in our area:

Pensioners

• Gordon Brown today announced that every pensioner household – 65 and over – paying council tax, would receive a council tax refund of £200. Together with the Winter Fuel Payment that means pensioners will receive £400 and those aged 80 or over will receive a total of £500 this year.
• Pensioners entering hospital from April 2005 will continue to receive their full basic state pension and full entitlement to Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support for the duration of their stay in hospital.

Families

• The effective income tax rate for a family with two children earning 25,000 pounds a year will be just 6% and at 30,000 just 10%.
• Brown has announced that he will double the point at which stamp duty is paid from £60 000 to £120 000, and provided new help for first time home buyers.

Schools

• Brown’s budget also outlined government plans to continue investing in Putney’s schools, skills, training and enterprise.
• Extra cash will be make available to rebuild or renovate Putney’s primary schools. This new money will ensure most schools gain facilities such as parents’ centres, ICT suites in schools and other extended services.

If you have any further questions about the Budget – or anything else, then please contact me, either by email to colmant@parliament.uk or by telephone, 020 7219 2843.

Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour

I am giving my full support to the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour. The Awards, organised by Nationwide Building Society in association with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Newspaper Society, are designed to reward and recognise local heroes whose voluntary work or community activity has made a real difference to peoples’ lives.

Anybody wishing to nominate someone can pick up a leaflet containing a nomination form from their local branch of Nationwide Building Society, or the local public library. Alternatively, on-line nominations can be made via, www.nationwide.co.uk/abou¬t¬_nationwide/community_relations/awards/nom_form.asp

A Brick in the Wall

You can contribute to the new Brewer Building at St. Mary’s Church, by purchasing a brick for £25, which will then have your name on it for posterity!

Contact me

Remember, if you would like me to represent you in any way, you can call me on 020 7219 2843 or email me on colmant@parliament.uk. This month my surgeries will be held on:
- Saturday, 19th March, 9.00-10.00 at Southfields Library, and 11.00-12.00 at the Penfold Centre.
- Friday, 1st April, 3.30-4.30 at Roehampton Library, and 5.30-6.30 at Putney library.

March 18, 2005