HC Deb 21 March 2001 vol 365 cc233-4W
Mr. Kaufman

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 6 November 2000. [154498]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Since 6 November, the pre-Budget Report 2000 and Budget 2001 have introduced a number of policies which will further benefit the Manchester, Gorton constituency. In particular, all 10,900 pensioners in Manchester, Gorton will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001; and all 2,300 Working Families Tax Credit recipients in Manchester, Gorton will receive an additional £5 per week from June 2001.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St. Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St. Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154537]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Truro and St. Austell, 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 1,210, or 41 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 84 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 75 per cent.

Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic 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 1,161 young people in Truro and St. Austell constituency gain valuable skills and experience—646 (56 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, 2,600 families in Truro and St. Austell constituency were benefiting from WFTC.

The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 22,700 in Truro and St. Austell, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic State Pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a 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 13,800 in Truro and St. Austell.