Bob Blizzard backs Labour's Pre Budget Report for helping local people and jobs

Alistair Darling today announced measures in the Pre-Budget Report that will ensure that the East of England secures economic recovery and can go for growth; take the tough choices necessary to halve the deficit in four years; and protect vital front-line services.

The Pre-Budget Report contained measures to stimulate economic growth, including the guarantee that every young person out of work for more than six months will be given a job, training or a college place. Additionally, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme has been extended until March 2010, worth another £500 million of loan guarantees to SMEs.

Labour’s Deputy Minster for the East of England and Waveney MP, Bob Blizzard said:

“Because we have taken these tough choices on spending and on tax, Labour is the only party that is committed to protecting frontline public services and keeping people in their homes. Even in tough times, we will protect frontline investment in the NHS, Schools, Sure Start and police numbers over the next 3 years.

“We will continue to support businesses so that they can get through tough times by pressing the banks to start lending more to business and helping businesses to defer their tax payments until they can better afford to pay – a scheme which has helped tens of thousands of businesses in our region.”