| 1. Labour has brought jobs |
| 2. Children and families |
| 3. Pensioners |
| 4. Schools |
| 5. Public transport |
| 6. Lobbying of Whitehall departments |
| 7. Hospitals |
| 8. Crime |
| 1.
Labour has brought jobs: Unemployment in Exeter has now fallen to below 2.9%, its lowest level since the early 1970's and down 20% since the general election. With the New Deal youth unemployment in Exeter is down by 79% and long-term unemployment is down by 62% since the last general election. A total of 2,547 constituents have been helped by the introduction of the minimum wage. |
| 2.
Children and families: Exeter has directly benefited from having a Labour Government. Up to 2,785 families stand to benefit from the increase in the Working Families Tax Credit. 12,500 families in Exeter have gained after the Child Benefit was raised to �15 for the eldest child - its highest ever level. |
| 3.
Pensioners: 7,891 pensioners in Exeter will benefit from the free TV licences for those aged 75 and over - a saving of �104 a year. 19,727 pensioners will have an extra �50 through the increase in the Winter Fuels Allowance to �150. |
| 4.
Schools: There are almost no first school classes with over 30 pupils. Before Labour took office in 1997 there were classes in Exeter with up to 40 pupils. |
| 5.
Public transport: The Labour Government has reversed Tory under funding of public transport. There are 300 villages in Devon which now have a daily instead of just a weekly bus service. Passenger numbers in the area rose by a million last year. Rail passenger numbers in Devon are also up - 15% since 1997. Pensioners will enjoy half fares on the buses from next April. |
| 6.
Lobbying of Whitehall departments: I have intervened with ministers to guarantee funding for the new combined school at Topsham. The Minister of Agriculture agreed not only to keep the Exeter office open but to expand it in future. I helped persuade the Regional Development Agency for the whole of the South West region to base its headquarters in Exeter. After taking up the case of residents who live near the A30, Tony Blair confirmed that the noisy road would be resurfaced using a quieter material. |
| 7.
Hospitals: Waiting lists at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital have fallen. The hospital has a new renal unit and the accident and emergency unit is being modernised. Extra money for the NHS is already providing more nurses and doctors. Nursing numbers at the R.D. and E. are up ten percent over the last two years. One of only two new medical schools - the first in Britain for 30 years - is to be built in Exeter. |
| 8.
Crime: Crime is down since Labour came to power - by 22% since the election. Devon and Cornwall Police have been given the resources for extra officers. Places for an additional 138 police recruits are being funded over the next two years. |