In Parliament

Budget is Good for Newport East 12 March 2008

MP Welcomes Increase in Winter Fuel Payments

Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, welcomed the announcement in today's budget that pensioners will see their winter fuel payments increase.

Jessica said "It is great news that winter fuel payments are going up, people in their 60s will see an increase of £50 and £100 for the over 80s, and I know many of my constituents will benefit from the increase. With the recent price increase in energy bills, it was important to help pensioners out and I've been lobbying the Minister to do this over the past year."

Jessica continued "Hardworking families in Newport East will benefit from: increased Child benefit to £20 a week, a £50 increase in Child Tax Credit for families on low and middle incomes, and the Government is going to spend a further £125 million to develop new approaches to help families for the long-term.

Also, it is particularly pleasing that charities will not see a reduction in their gift aid contributions and the Government reiterating its commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020."

Plastic bags and the most polluting cars are the biggest losers. There will be charges on plastic bags and higher road tax for gas guzzlers. These, coupled with a commitment that by 2019 all new non-domestic buildings will be zero carbon, means the Government are taking tough measures to tackle climate change.