Investing In Social Priorities

EDM number 1885 in 2003-04, proposed by Llew Smith on 08/11/2004.

That this House believes that politics is all about priorities and considers a new tax net band at 50 per cent. should be introduced for those earning in excess of ú100,000 to raise an additional ú4.8 billion for public expenditure; further considers that if the UK's annual contribution to NATO was reduced to be the same as the average percentage (i.e. 0.7 per cent.) of monies spent on defence by the Western European NATO nations, this would save another ú7.3 billion, totalling ú12.1 billion; thus advocates that by investing ú3 billion of this, it could end all fuel poverty, including the most vulnerable 1.4 million households, ú1.9 billion would allow the doubling of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, ú2 billion would pay for the construction cost of six medium sized district general hospitals of 800 beds each, and their operational costs, ú600 million would cover costs for linking basic state pensions to earnings increases, at 2004-05 prices, ú1.35 billion a year would pay for all present and proposed tuition fees for higher education, ú450 million a year would allow all prescription charges to be scrapped, ú2 billion could lift some 200,000 children out of poverty by a ú3 a week increase in child benefit and ú800 million invested in wave energy power generation, a predictable renewable source, would be significant contribution to the UK's climate change and emission reduction strategy; considers that this expenditure is a preferable way to make public investment; and calls upon the relevant ministers to adopt these policies.

This motion has been signed by a total of 23 MPs.