I was very pleased to hear the Chancellor’s announcements today, setting out how the Government will fairly and responsibly cut the national deficit, stop the spiralling debt left by the last Government and get the economy back on its feet.
The Government sent the message that dealing with the debt is unavoidable, but the decisions about how to do it are not; the Government has decided to provide investment in the future, rather than paying the bills of past failure. There will be an average cut of 19% for unprotected departments over four years. The Government are doing all they can to ensure that these cuts come from administration within departments and cutting bureaucracy, whilst protecting frontline services at all costs.
The Spending Review will also see an increase in schools budgets and introduce a new pupil premium to support the most disadvantaged school pupils. The Government also announced its plans to invest £150 million in small businesses, which will help those struggling in the current financial climate.
Up to 150,000 more affordable homes, the ability of local Government to freeze council tax in 2011- 2012 and an extra £250 million a year on new adult apprenticeships were also among the changes announced by the Chancellor.
The Government has taken the right steps to protect the vulnerable whilst making the necessary changes to get the country back on its feet.
It is my duty to find out how the cuts are affecting people on the front line and to ensure that they are being implemented fairly and properly. This is why I want to hear from you on what affect the cuts are having on your lives, jobs and access to services. I have today set up a new email address,spendingreview@richardharrington.org.uk, where people in Watford can write to me specifically on this subject and so that I can represent these views in Parliament.