STEVENSON DELIGHTED AS MORE SAVINGS FOR BANFF & BUCHAN RESIDENTS COME INTO FORCE

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the fact that as of today (April 1st) residents of Banff & Buchan will save money on a range of bills thanks to SNP Government action.

The latest phase of prescription charge reductions will lower prices to £4 for a single item, £13 for a 4 month pre-payment certificate and £38 for a 12 month pre-payment certificate. These charges will continue to fall ahead of their complete abolition in 2011, in contrast to the situation south of the border where they have continued to rise.

Around 120,000 businesses across Scotland will see their business rates abolished, while another 30,000 will see them lowered significantly. This will provide much needed assistance to small businesses during the current downturn. The latest freeze in council tax has also now come into effect.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“The first of April sees a whole host of measures taken by the SNP Government come into effect. Prescription charges have been reduced further; many small businesses have had their rates completely abolished and it is the day that the latest council tax freeze comes into effect.

“These policies will all help put money back into ordinary people’s pockets and help them through the current downturn. As well as these measures, a range of new targets on health efficiency, action and treatment come into effect; training programmes for unemployed adults will be available after 13-weeks unemployment rather than the previous 26; and new procedures for landlords and creditors to inform councils when reclaiming properties will help address homelessness problems.

“The SNP Government is continuing to deliver real benefits to the people of Banff & Buchan and the start of the financial year is a real landmark in their implementation. We are taking real action to make Scotland a better place and help ordinary people through the economic downturn”.