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Labour's objective is to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, with opportunity and
security for all in every region and nation of the UK.
Our vision is that Britain can - even amidst the pressures and insecurities of globalisation -
become the first country of this era to combine enterprise and economic strength with a strong
public realm with world class public services - and where we eradicate child and pensioner
poverty.
Today, because of the tough, long-term decisions this Government has taken since 1997 - Bank of
England independence, tough fiscal rules, freezing public spending for two years, and cutting
debt - Britain is no longer the most inflation prone economy, but enjoys the lowest inflation
for thirty years, has had the lowest interest rates for forty years and is now enjoying the
longest period of sustained economic growth for 200 years. Britain is now advancing further and
faster towards full employment and after decades of under-investment, investment in schools is
doubling, in policing doubling, in transport doubling, in housing doubling, and instead of £40
billion spent on the NHS in 1997, by 2008 £110 billion will be spent on the NHS.
A stronger, more productive West Midlands economy -
" We are committed to full employment for all in every region of the UK.
Since 1997 employment has risen by 70,000 across the West Midlands. -
" Unemployment has fallen by 27,000 since the 1997. Over the same period, both long-term youth
unemployment and long-term unemployment have been reduced by over three-quarters.
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" The New Deal has already helped over 93,000 people in the West Midlands into work, including
over 46,000 through the New Deal for young people.
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" Businesses are benefiting from a reduction in the corporation tax starting rate from 10 per
cent to zero and a reduction in the small companies rate from 20 per cent to 19 per cent,
benefiting around 12,000 large and 27,000 small businesses respectively.
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" We are boosting the RDA's Single Pot bringing it to £2.3 billion by 2007-08 this will enable
Advantage West Midlands to build on current successes in the region, including the launch of the
'Manufacturing Advisory Service - West Midlands', which provides a framework of support for
manufacturing
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" Employer Training Pilots have been extended to cover the Black Country.
Help for West Midlands families-
" We are committed to halving child poverty by 2010 on the way to abolishing it within a
generation. The Child Tax Credit, helps tackle child poverty and make work pay. Across the
West Midlands 399,300 working families are benefiting from the Child Tax Credit.
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" The Working Tax Credit, helps make work pay. Across the West Midlands 164,000 benefit.
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" We want every pensioner to enjoy dignity and security in retirement.
The Pension Credit
provides a minimum income guarantee and additional money to those who have saved modestly.
Currently there are 198,705 households in receipt of Pension Credit across the West Midlands. -
" An increase in the adult and youth rates of the National Minimum Wage to £4.85 and £4.10
respectively benefits at least 150,000 adult workers in the West Midlands
World Class Public Services across the West Midlands-
" The Spending Review confirmed Labour's plans to increase spending on the NHS across the
West Midlands building on the extra 7,200 nurses and 2,100 doctors in the region since 1997.
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" The Spending Review provided for education spending in England to grow by 4.4 per cent a
year to 2007-08 benefiting the 1,907 primary schools and 416 secondary schools across the region.
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" The general government grant to local authorities is increasing by an average of 2.7 per
cent a year in real terms to 2007-08 providing the 39 local councils and police and fire
authorities in the West Midlands with increased resources.
A Fairer West Midlands with stronger communities-
" The Spending Review provided for a national £150 million Community Infrastructure Fund to
unlock housing development and improve housing affordability.
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" Continued support for the 6 New Deal Communities Partnerships in the West Midlands which
will receive a total of over £319 million over a ten year period.
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" Continued investment through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund of £525 million to narrow the
gap between the most deprived areas and the rest of England and has benefited deprived areas in
7 local authority districts in the West Midlands.
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" The number of police officers across the West Midlands has increased by 1,280 since 1997
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