BUDGET BOX BRINGS NOTHING FOR CORNWALL

5.40.00pm GMT Wed 12th Mar 2008

Cornwall's 5 Liberal Democrat MPs have expressed their disappointment at today's budget, after it offered nothing to tackle the unfair funding gap which continues to deprive Cornwall's schools and hospitals of their fair share.

Alistair Darling's first budget as Chancellor looks set to leave millions of hard-pressed families struggling to make ends meet and thousands of children trapped in poverty. By the Government's own calculations it is putting in £2.5bn less than is needed to meet its pledge to halve child poverty by 2010. Indeed, by 2010, the Government stands to net an extra £1.86 billion for themselves.

Meanwhile, the Government's continuing failure to tackle high water bills in the South West means that even more Cornish families are struggling to pay their bills.

For pensioners too, despite headline-grabbing increases in the Winter Fuel payment (which will not be paid until 2009), their allowance will be worth less than when it was introduced, due to massive increases in energy prices.

Commenting, MP for Falmouth and Camborne Julia Goldsworthy said:

"This budget does nothing to address the unfair funding deal which Cornwall has been getting for so long. Despite claiming that child poverty is a top priority for them, this Government has abandoned its pledge to halve child poverty by 2010 and has persistently failed to tackle the high water bills facing Cornish families. Cornwall deserves better.

Colin Breed, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman and MP for South East Cornwall added:

"The most important tax change which will come into force on the 1st April is the abolition of the 10p band, which will mean many low income earners paying much higher taxes. Increased duty on alcohol will not address binge drinking and small business will be hit with higher tax at a time when they are already under pressures because of the downturn in the economy."