CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown's Pre-Budget Report is good news for the people of Ellesmere Port and Neston, says local MP Andrew Miller.

"It shows the Government is carrying out its promises and is building long term prosperity through measures to help people off welfare into work, improve competition, innovation and investment and ensure stability in the economy," he said.

"It meets (my constituents') priorities by improving childcare and helping pensioners, thus building on what the Government has already done in health and education."

Mr Miller said the new National Childcare Programme will inject £300 million, over five years, into childcare provision. This will include out-of-school childcare in every community in Britain, offering up to 30,000 new childcare clubs and up to one million new childcare places.

"Pensioners are not forgotten, either," he pointed out. "There will be help with fuel bills this Winter - £20 for every pensioner household and £50 for pensioner households on Income Support. When added to the effects of the cut in VAT on fuel and other measures already implemented, this means that the average pensioner household will be helped by up to £100 a year.

"Under Government funded schemes such as the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, 40,000 extra homes a year will be eligible to receive insulation as a result of the reduction in VAT on energy-saving materials from 17.5 per cent to five per cent."

He added: "Other developments in the welfare to work programme announced by the Chancellor are very welcome, including the proposals to help tackle skill shortages."

"The 101 young people unemployed for over six months and the 249 people long term unemployed in my Constituency will also benefit from the start of the New Deal nationwide next year."

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