News Release

6th December 2001

DISAPPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR LICHFIELD DISTRICT

Michael Fabricant has expressed his bitter disappointment with the Government's provision for local government. "Despite all the advance hype issued by the Government's news managers, Lichfield District will only see a cash increase this year of 0.4% on the previous year. With inflation running at around 2.5% and wage inflation being considerably higher than that, this increase of less than half a percent will spell either reduced services or higher council taxes or both. There is no other solution" says Michael Fabricant. "The arithmatic of it all is that just to stand still next year, Council Tax would have to rise by 4%".

"This is an insult to local people who make a far higher contribution in income tax and vat per capita to the Government than the national average. The Treasury seems happy enough to collect our taxes, but Gordon Brown seems unwilling to support our local services.

"I understand that the Council have the right to appeal against this miserly grant and I am offering them all the help I can give to ensure fair funding for the District Council and Council Tax payers here in Lichfield District." Michael adds.