PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: CHANCELLOR'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
 

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has welcomed the announcement that personal tax allowances are to rise by £600 to compensate those who lost out from the scrapping of the 10p tax band.  

However, Mr Burns said there were many outstanding issues surrounding the package outlined by the Chancellor Alastair Darling.

He commented: “I was very much against the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

“At that time the government’s promise on the compensation package for people on low incomes who would lose out was not clear or strong enough.

“The remedy which has been announced is clearer and has come earlier than previous statements had indicated.

“However, a number of questions remained unanswered. The chancellor has not explained if his figures regarding the number of households who will see their loss halved are accurate.

“In addition, does the Government know the typical make-up of who these people are and will they be ones who need the most help? And of course we must ask if they could not have better compensated overall

“However I am glad the government has been forced to reconsider their position on this issue which is due in no small measure to the pressure of backbench MPs who tabled an amendment which SDLP MPs also signed.

“This was a significant measure at a time when price rises in a number of areas are hitting everyone and the worst-off are being hit hardest.”

ENDS