Ebrief from

Cathy Jamieson MP
4th April 2011

shines a light on hidden cuts to family budgets

Shopworkers union USDAW came to Parliament to shine a light on the

Coalition Government’s hidden cuts to family budgets. Tax and benefit
changes that have already been imposed by the Coalition will start hitting
local families from this week. The reduction in Childcare Tax Credit and the
freezing of Child Benefit will leave many hard working families hundreds of
pounds worse off at a time when family budgets are already being squeezed
by rising prices and the increase in VAT.
Date Change Impact
Sure Start Maternity Grant for £500 less for lower income families having
1 April
second child and baby abolished second or subsequent baby
Baby element of Child Tax £545 less for families with babies under one in
Credits abolished April 2011
£50 to £120 less for all families depending on the
Child Benefit frozen
number of children
£88 less for people working under 30 hours and
Working Tax Credit frozen
£124 less for people working over 30 hours
Childcare Tax Credit reduced Up to £1,560 less for families claiming Childcare
from 80% to 70% Tax Credit
Personal tax allowance increased
5 April £160 more for all basic rate taxpayers
by £1,000
NIC threshold & NIC rate Employees on less than £20,000 gain up to £120,
increased others lose out by up to £200
Benefits & tax credits to rise by Households lose out by around 2% of all benefits
CPI, rather than RPI - up to £100
Health in Pregnancy Grant £190 less to families with a baby due after mid
abolished April 2011
Child Tax Credit increased by Households on less than £20,000 will be net
£180 but tax credit claw-back gainers of up to £180 but those on more will be
(taper) increased by 2% to 41% net losers of up to £150

On top of this, the small print in the Budget reveals that the Winter Fuel
Allowance for pensioners is to be cut! There is a real squeeze on family
incomes at the moment and if the Government refuses to change course,
making ends meet is going to get even harder. I highlighted these issues in
my speech during the Budget Debate in Parliament last week.

1
Changes to ESA unfair to disabled
Regulations introduced by the
Government (SI 2011 No. 228) will make it
more difficult for people with disabilities
and long-term conditions to claim
Employment
and Support
Allowance
(ESA), the
benefit
intended to
assist people
taking steps
towards work,
or who are unable to work due to illness
or disability, according to the Disability
Benefits Consortium. The UK
Government’s proposals will make the
Work Capability Assessment (the test
which determines eligibility for ESA) unfair
and inappropriate for people with long-
term, fluctuating conditions such as
Parkinson’s. It would mean, for instance,
that claimants may be judged able to work
if, while they cannot write, they can
simply “make a meaningful mark” on the
page. I have signed Early Day Motion
1651 tabled by Ed Miliband MP calling for
the annulment of these unfair regulations
that will hurt the most vulnerable in our
society.
Victims of terrorism deserve Justice
At last week’s Justice Questions in
Parliament I raised a question about the
ongoing review of the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority and asked why
the Government has not yet acted to
ensure that UK citizens who are victims of
terrorist attacks abroad get the
compensation they should be entitled to.
Westminster is now in recess until 25th April. I will be working in the constituency during
the recess, visiting local businesses and voluntary organisations, as well as holding
doorstep surgeries. Appointments are also available at my office, by calling
01563 522361 or email cathy.jamieson.mp@parliament.uk
2
Victory for Circus Ban Campaign
It’s only a few weeks since I was in the
gardens next to the House of Commons
adding my support to the campaign for a
ban on wild animals in circuses. And in
the last fortnight
we have heard
more of the
suffering of
elderly elephant
Annie, before
she prepares to move to her new home at
Longleat. Locally, Kilmarnock woman
Maureen Rankin of CAPS has been to the
forefront of campaigning and the news
that Ministers are moving towards a ban is
a victory for all her hard work.
Early Day Motion on TB and HIV
integration in Rwanda
Following my visit to health services in the
Rwanda, I have tabled EDM 1675, which
has been
supported
by Angus
MacNeill
MP. The
EDM notes
progress
made on
tackling
both diseases in Rwanda and calls for best
practice to be shared with other countries.
I am holding an open meeting on
International Development issues, on 14th
April at 7pm in the Howard Church Centre
Kilmarnock. I will give a presentation on
my trip to Rwanda and Anas Sarwar MP
will speak about his work on the
International Development Select
Committee.