Local Government Finance And St Helens

EDM number 620 in 1994-95, proposed by John Evans on 15/02/1995.

That this House expresses its grave concern at the Government's proposed 1995-96 Local Government Finance Settlement; considers that St Helens, which has significant social and economic problems, has been unfairly treated at a time when the authority is facing a 64 per cent. increase, since 1990, in the number of children eligible for clothes and footwear grants and, in the same period, a fourfold increase in the number of children requiring statements in mainstream schools; notes that since 1991 there has been a 12 per cent. increase in the number of children entitled to free school meals; further notes that over the past two years St Helens Council has reduced staffing levels by 11 per cent. and spending by ú13 million yet is expected to make further cuts although pressure's to increase expenditure clearly exist; commends St. Helens Council for striving to maintain high levels of service in a very difficult climate but believes that services will deteriorate if the authority continues to be disadvantaged; and therefore calls upon Her Majesty's Government to give further sympathetic reconsideration to the financial strictures placed on St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.