Rachel’s Requests: MP for Tiverton and Minehead outlines Budget asks for the Chancellor
PICTURE: Rachel Gilmour MP with Liz and Libby from The Filo Project, as well as Steve Race MP.
In a pack put together by Mrs Gilmour, the MP has asked the Chancellor to consider the following:
Rethink the Family Farm Tax – Rachel Gilmour MP has highlighted that the Government’s inheritance tax changes will mean that “thousands of family farms across the country will be hit by a cut to their income now, and further taxation on succession”.
Reduce VAT by 5% for hospitality businesses – Mrs Gilmour is backing Liberal Democrat plans to cut VAT from 20% to 15% to “drive economic growth and help restore our high streets”.
Cut VAT for community interest companies (CICs) providing dementia care – Tiverton and Minehead’s MP has been working with dementia care service provider The Filo Project to cut VAT on dementia care, as well as other specialist care. Mrs Gilmour explained that by cutting VAT, “we will see an expansion of care providers across the UK – addressing some of the national social care issues”.
Government funding and a strategy to address national SEND crisis – After holding SEND roundtables, Rachel Gilmour said that “local authorities lack the funding and resources to effectively deal with the number of children with SEND”. The MP is calling for a strategy from central government to reduce the timeframes for education, health and care plans (EHCPs).
Real terms increase in environmental protection funding – According to figures from Prospect and DEFRA, since 2010 there has been a real-terms funding cut of one third to the Environment Agency’s environmental protection funding. Mrs Gilmour wants an increase in funding “to help tackle water pollution, improve biodiversity, and better regulate spills”.
The complete document can be found online here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ASFE6wDHW/
Speaking on Wednesday (19th November), Rachel Gilmour MP commented:
“It has been a challenging time for many in the constituency, and I hope that next week the Government will address some of the major issues to help move our region, and our country, forward.
Last year, the Chancellor failed to mention the South West in the Budget. Tiverton and Minehead cannot be ignored again".