Jenny Willott MP

Jenny Willott MP encourages local schools to take part in My Money Week

Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, has called on local schools to take part in My Money Week (3 to 9 June), giving pupils the chance to learn more about money and personal finance. Every primary and secondary school in Cardiff Central is being given the chance to take part for free in My Money Week, which has returned for its fifth year thanks to a new partnership between national charity pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group) and Barclays.

My Money Week will improve young people's financial skills, knowledge and confidence through special lessons, activities and debates in schools and other settings across the UK. Teachers in Cardiff Central can order a free Activity Pack, developed by pfeg, full of creative and engaging financial resources and ideas for how to deliver financial education to young people, from the age of four up to 19. Young people in Cardiff Central can also take part in the 'A-Z of Money', a national competition challenging them to learn more about money through creative writing.

Jenny Willott MP said:

Almost all of us know someone who has suffered a stroke, and yet there is still a huge lack of awareness about this widespread problem. Many of us know very little about what we can do to help prevent strokes, or what services and support are available to help stroke victims and their families. It is vital that we raise awareness of strokes, which is why I'm supporting this year's Action on Stroke Month.

Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, has strongly criticised Cardiff Council for a decision to offer three senior managers a combined pay rise of £100,000 in a council shake-up.

Various new management positions have been created as part of a £1.1m senior management restructure.

Commenting, Jenny Willott MP said:

Jenny Willott,MP for Cardiff Central, is encouraging children and parents toswap cars, buses and trains for a ticket to stride during Walk to School Week.

Walk to School Week (20-24 May) is an opportunity for parents and children across the UK to try walking to school. Along with Walk to Work Week (13-17 May), Walk to School Week forms a part of National Walking Month, a month dedicated to celebrating the benefits of walking.

Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, has given her support to Carers Week 2013, which takes place between June 10th - 16th.

"Thousands of people all over the country are dedicating time, energy and money to caring for people around them, completely unpaid and simply because it is the right thing to do. I know there is a huge amount of pressure on many carers: caring can be time-consuming and exhausting, with enormous responsibility for often very vulnerable people."

Welcoming the news that the Welsh Government have rejected Western Power Distribution's appeal to build on Llanishen Reservoir, Jenny Willott MP, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central said:

"Together with locals and the Reservoir Action Group, we have been fighting plans by Western Power since 2002 to protect the reservoir and the flora and fauna specific to the site, to ensure its use for future generations."

Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott hashailed the 6 April Income Tax cut as a giant leap towards the Liberal Democrat goal of a fairer tax system.

On 6 April 2013, the Personal Allowance will be raised to £9,440 - the largest rise in the Personal Allowance ever. This means that 134,400 ordinary basic rate taxpayers in Cardiff will see their Income Tax cut for the third year in a row. That will bring the total Income Tax cut since Labour's time in government to £600.

The Budget announced that the Income Tax Personal Allowance will be raised to £10,000 in April 2014 - one year sooner than had been expected. This means 130,000 ordinary working people in Cardiff will get a further Income Tax cut, bringing the total tax cut to £700 a year since Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition Government.

In Cardiff, this welcome news also means that 12,390 low-earners will have been lifted out of paying Income Tax altogether thanks to Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government.

Commenting, Jenny Willott MP said:

"Liberal Democrats are working for a stronger economy and a fairer society, so that everyone can get on in life.

"Fundamental to this is fairer taxes, which is why we made raising the tax-free allowance our number one priority at the General Election - so important that we put it on the front page of our manifesto.

"When times are tough, with rising bills and wages not keeping pace with inflation, we want to give people real, practical help. This measure will do exactly that, meaning that the Income Tax bill for the average family has been cut by a third under this Government.

"Cutting Income Tax will not deal with all of the problems people are facing, but it will help. I hope it will make a big difference to every family in this country."

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said:

"When times are as tough as they are now, our focus must be on helping those on low and middle incomes. That's why we've made delivering on this promise our number one priority in Government.

"It's also why we have scrapped another of Labour's fuel duty rises, so filling up your car will be £7 cheaper than under Labour plans. And why we are cracking down on tax dodgers so that everyone is paying their fair share.

"All of this has been done while sticking to our tough but necessary plan to deal with this country's financial problems. Britain can't afford unfunded giveaways - unlike the last Labour Government, we have made sure everything is paid for."

Families across Wales are to get greater financial support for childcare thanks to a major new initiative.

Liberal Democrat analysis shows that the £1bn boost to help parents with childcare costs could benefit 110,000 families in Wales.

The Coalition Government's scheme will save the typical working family with two children up to £2,400 a year.

Labour's plans for regionalised benefits would have a disastrous effect on Wales, according to Jenny Willott MP, Assistant Whip in the Coalition Government.

In the latest edition of Inside Housing magazine, Liam Byrne MP, the Shadow Work and Pensions Minister, has argued that there is a strong case for there to be a regionalised housing benefit cap in different parts of the country. Speaking on the issue, Liam Byrne confirmed that Labour supported a housing benefit cap, but added that "we do know it has to be different in London than outside. We have had regionalised housing benefit since day one so it makes sense to have different benefit caps in different parts of the country".

Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, commented:

"There is no other way to say this - Labour's plans would punish people just because they live in Wales.

"Labour's record on penalising those in Wales is nothing short of disgraceful. Let us never forget that it was the last Labour Government that introduced regional pay into the public sector. Now Labour is intent on introducing a regional benefits system, which would hit the poorest in Wales.

"The Welsh Labour Government seem to be in denial about the effect of Labour policy on Wales. They failed to stop the previous Labour Government introducing regional pay in the public sector and now they are putting their heads in the sand about regional benefits. The Shadow Secretary for Wales has been remarkably quiet on the issue - it's now time for him to clarify whether he supports his party's policy on this issue. If not, he should make a stand and say so.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats helped stop George Osborne's plans for extending regional pay and we have made clear that regional benefits will not happen on our watch. We are focusing on making sure that work pays. That is why from April over 100,000 of the lowest paid workers will no longer pay a single penny of income tax and over a million Welsh workers on low and middle incomes will receive a £600 income tax cut. Only the Welsh Liberal Democrats can be trusted to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling every person to get on in life."