§ Helen JonesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152322]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonWarrington, North, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the General Election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 638, or 29 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 60 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 63 per cent.
Macro-economic stability is being complemented at the micro-economic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 836 young people in the Warrington, North constituency gain valuable skills and experience—382 (46 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 2,400 families in the constituency were benefiting from WFTC.
158W
Lead partner Title Central Government-led projects Cabinet Office e-learning for the voluntary sector Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) British Library—Citizenship in Schools DCMS Sport via the internet Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) Waterways license database DETR Air Quality Forecasts for Health DETR National Height Model DETR Net based Control of Hazards DETR Chemical Control for Health and Safety taxable incomes (a) exceeding £1,520 and lower than £28,400, (b) exceeding £28,400 and lower than £100,000 and (c) exceeding £100,000 a year. [151632]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 5 March 2001]: The full year income tax effects in 2001–02 of making the change is set out in the table.
The Government are also committed to developing policies which enable all pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. As a result of the recent pre-Budget report, all pensioners, including 14,400 in Warrington, North, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 per week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000—including around 9,400 in Warrington, North.