Sunday, 11 May 2008 Back Delivering in Edmonton Step by step, the Government is building prosperity and security for all the people of Edmonton. There is still a long way to go to turn Britain into the kind of country we all want to see. But we've made a good start and since 1997 our policies have brought real benefits to the people of Edmonton. Year on year, sustained investment in the NHS This year the local Health Authority has received £387.8 million in 2001/2 compared to 1996/97 funding of just £228.1 million. At the North Middlesex Hospital there is a new walk-in centre and the A&E unit has been improved. Our hospitals are at last getting the investment they need – £73million for the North Middlesex Hospital and £41million for Chase Farm. The Government is creating a health service fit for all. Lowest tax burden for working families since 1972 Labour is making work pay with the national minimum wage, the 10p rate of income tax and the Working Families Tax Credit. The tax burden on a single-earner family on average earnings with two children in Edmonton will be the lowest since 1972. As a result of our tax and benefit changes since 1997, families with children in Edmonton are £1,000 a year better off on average. 1,520 low and middle income families are £30 a week better off on average thanks to our Working Families' Tax Credit. Guaranteeing an income of at least £214 per week for full-time work. No family with earnings of less than £235 a week in Edmonton will pay any net income tax from October this year. About 17,716 working people in Edmonton are benefiting from the 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax introduced this year. Economic Stability Our policies of economic stability have delivered the lowest inflation and interest rates for over 30 years. As a result, mortgage holders in Edmonton are paying £1,200 a year less on average on their mortgage than they were under the Tories. Class sizes falling for 5, 6 and 7 year olds The number of 5, 6, and 7 year olds in Edmonton taught in classes of over 30 has fallen from 1,257 in 1998 to 31 by January 2001. That means 1,257 infants in Edmonton are benefiting from our pledge to cut infant class sizes. A Fairer deal for all pensioners, and help for the poorest pensioners We are bringing security and dignity to Edmonton's pensioners: Up to 14,260 pensioners in Edmonton are benefiting from this year's record rise in the basic state pension, up by £5 a week for individuals, £8 for couples. And the prospect should Labour be returned of another substantial rise in the basis pension next April. 13,719 over-60s received help to keep warm this winter through our £200 Winter Fuel Payment. 6,080 over 75s are getting free TV licenses, a tax-free saving of £2 a week. Labour spent an additional £6.5 billion on pensioners over the course of this Parliament. At least 3,000 of the least well-off pensioners in Edmonton will have gained from the Minimum Income Guarantee which means £78.45 a week for single pensioners and £121.95 for pensioner couples. More help for children Child benefit for the eldest child has risen to £15.50 a week, compared to only £11.40 under the Tories helping 12,936 families in Edmonton. Child benefit for each subsequent child has also risen to £10. These families are also eligible to benefit from the Children's Tax Credit – our new family tax cut worth up to £10 per week. A million more jobs across the UK, and help for the young through the New Deal Labour's programme for economic stability and low inflation is helping more people more people in Edmonton than ever before off benefit and into work. The number of people on the dole in Edmonton has fallen from 3,889 in 1997 to 2,362 now. A decrease of 1,527. 1200 young people in Edmonton have benefited from our New Deal for Young People, and 442 have found work through the programme. Long-term youth unemployment has been slashed by 72.8% in Edmonton since Labour came to office. The fight Against Crime We are cutting crime in Edmonton by being tough on crime and tough on its causes. Under the Tories, the total number of recorded crimes in Greater London soared from 38,735 in 1979 to 77,320 in 1997, a rise of 100 percent. With Labour, since 1997 total recorded crime in the Metropolitan police force area is down 6.2 percent. After years of decline, we have turned the corner on police numbers, with police numbers up by 36 in Greater London since September 2000. School standards rising in Edmonton 11 year olds in Enfield have achieved record primary school results thanks to our literacy and numeracy hours. 72 percent are now reaching the required standard in reading and writing – up from 66 percent in 1998. In Maths this number is up to 68 percent from 56 percent in 1998. We are driving up standards in schools through our extra investment, and use of tried and trusted teaching methods. We are spending an extra £540 per pupil in real terms now compared to 1996/97. Across the UK, funding per pupil has risen by £300 in real terms since 1997. This year, the funding allocation to Enfield Education Authority has increased by £8 million to raise standards in schools. In April 2001, every school again received a direct grant. A typical secondary school received £60,000 whilst most primary schools will received £20,000. Back © 2005 Andy Love MP Broad House, 205 Fore Street, Edmonton, London, N18 2TZ    Tel: 020 8803 0574    Email: andylovemp@aol.com