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Step
by step, Labour is building prosperity and security for all the
people of Oxford West & Abingdon. Our policies of economic
stability and making work pay have delivered record employment
levels and sustained, low interest and inflation rates. And because
we're managing the economy better, we can afford record investment
in public services. Under the Tories dole queues stretched to
3 million, inflation rose to 10% and interest rates to 15%. Now
they're committed to £16 billion cuts in public services
– that's £24 million in every constituency in the country.
1m more jobs since 1997, and 250,000
young people into work through New Deal
Labour's policies for economic stability and making work pay are
helping more people than ever before into work. Overall, the number
of people on the dole in Oxford West & Abingdon has fallen
from 1,094 in April 1997 to 664 in September this year, a drop
of 430 (or 39%). And our New Deal programme is bringing training
and jobs for unemployed young people.
* since New Deal started in April 1998, to the end of August 2000,
195 young people in Oxford West & Abingdon have started
the New Deal.
* 95 young people have found work through the programme.
* in addition 41 have gained work experience or training through
New Deal options.
Nationally, Labour has delivered a key election pledge to help
a quarter of a million young people off benefits and into work
through New Deal. Whereas the Tories would scrap New Deal, Labour
will turn it into a permanent deal.
With Labour, all pensioners are pounds better off every week
Following the measures announced in the Pre-Budget Report, Labour
will spend an additional £8.5 billion more on pensioners
over the course of this Parliament than the Tories intended. This
is also £5 billion more than if we had simply restored the
earnings link in 1997.
* At least 2000 of the least well-off pensioners in Oxford West
& Abingdon have gained from the Minimum Income Guarantee.
This is currently £78.45 a week for single pensioners and
£121.95 for pensioner couples, and receives a huge boost
in April 2001, rising to £92.15 and £140.55 respectively.
* All 15693 pensioners in Oxford West & Abingdon are benefiting
from the Winter Fuel Payment, increased from £100 last year
to £200 this and paid to all households with someone over
60.
* From 1 November at least 6277 pensioners over 75 in Oxford West
& Abingdon have benefited from a free television licence –
a saving of £104 a year.
* Up to 15693 pensioners in Oxford West & Abingdon will benefit
from a substantial boost to the Basic State Pension in April 2001.
This will rise by £5 for a single pensioner to £72.50
a week, and by £8 for a pensioner couple to £115.90
a week.
On average, by April 2001, pensioners in Oxford West & Abingdon
will be £11 better off a week than they were in May 1997.
And the poorest pensioners will be £14 better off.
Lowest tax burden for working families since 1972
Labour is making work pay with the national minimum wage, the
10p start rate of income tax and the Working Families Tax Credit.
The tax burden on a single-earner family on average earnings with
two children in Oxford West & Abingdon will be the lowest
since 1972.
* 1044 working families with children in Oxford West & Abingdon
are benefiting from the Working Families Tax Credit, guaranteeing
an income of at least £214 per week for full-time work.
No family with earnings of less than £235 a week in Oxford
West & Abingdon will pay any net income tax from October this
year.
* About 53406 people who work in the constituency of Oxford West
& Abingdon are benefiting from the 1p cut in the basic rate
of income tax introduced this year.
More help for children
Child benefit for the eldest child has risen to £15 a week,
compared to only £11.40 in 1997, helping 12100 families
in Oxford West & Abingdon. Child benefit for each subsequent
child has also risen to £10.
Year on year, sustained investment in the NHS
Labour believes in a high-quality, modern, patient-centred NHS.
To this end, we are putting in place record levels of investment
in the NHS facilities serving Oxford West & Abingdon
* this year Oxfordshire District Health Authority has received
a total allocation of £364.378 million. This is a cash increase
of £30.822 million (or 9%) more than last year.
* next year (2001/02), Oxfordshire District Health Authority's
allocation will rise to a record £394.886 million, a cash
increase of £31.899 million (a real terms rise of £22.268
million or 6.13%).
* and for the first time ever, Labour has guaranteed that Oxfordshire
District Health Authority's allocation will rise in real terms
by at least 6% for the two years after that.
Education - biggest ever real terms increase in funding for
schools
Across the UK, funding per pupil has risen by £300 in real
terms since 1997. This year, the funding allocation to Oxfordshire
Education Authority has increased by £12.45 million. And
in April 2001, every school will again receive a direct grant.
A typical secondary school will receive £60,000 whilst most
primary schools will receive £20,000.
School standards rising in Oxford West & Abingdon
Labour's policies, such as the numeracy and literacy hours, are
delivering record results for all our children. Our commitment
to raising standards in Oxfordshire Education Authority has led
over the last two years to:
* reading and writing standards up 10 percentage points for 11
year olds. 76% of 11 year olds are now reaching the required standards
in reading and writing as against only 66% when the Tories left
office.
* maths standards up 10 percentage points for the same age group.
71% of 11 year olds are now reaching the required standards in
maths as against only 61% when the Tories left office.
Class sizes falling for 5, 6 and 7 year olds
The percentage of 5, 6 and 7 year olds in Oxfordshire Education
Authority taught in classes of over thirty children has fallen
from 17% in 1997 to 0% in September this year. That means 1921
infants in Oxfordshire Education Authority are benefiting from
being in smaller classes.
Nationally, Labour is close to delivering on its key pledge to
end the scandal of infants taught in class sizes of more than
30. We have done this by scrapping the Assisted Places scheme,
and using this and other money to benefit all infants rather than
just the privileged few. |
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