ELLESMERE Port Labour MP Andrew Miller has welcomed the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report as good news for children, families and businesses.

Mr Miller said: 'The announcements show that Labour is keeping its promise.

'Among other reforms, the Pre-Budget Report increases the child tax credit, provides extra funds for our local councils and offers new help to support local businesses and promote enterprise.

'The Child Tax Credit is already benefiting nearly 7,000 families in Ellesmere Port and Neston and from next April, local mothers will get an extra £3.50 a week.'

He added: 'Our pensioners will also benefit from rises to the state pension next year of £2.15 per week for single pensioners and £3.45 a week for couples.

'From April 2004 there will also be measures introduced to do more for local authority Council Tax-payers. Across the United Kingdom, the Government is allocating an additional £406m for local authorities as they set their budgets. This is additional cash to meet the needs and concerns of Council Tax-payers.'

Mr Miller went on: 'Our local businesses are also set to benefit from the Chancellor's proposals. These will help small businesses to access the finance they need to start up and develop, reduce red tape and simplify tax, encourage research and development and promote innovation.

'We can only go ahead with these decisions because we have managed to avoid the global recession that has affected every other major economy. For the first time, because of the Labour Government's tough decisions to keep inflation low and get the public finances on a proper footing, the UK has weathered the economic storm.

'Today, inflation is at its lowest for 30 years, mortgage rates are their lowest for 40 years and more people are in work than ever before.

'In Ellesmere Port and Neston, unemployment overall has fallen by 56% since 1997, with long-term youth unemployment down by 91%.

'Gordon Brown's Pre-Budget Report shows we are delivering on the promises made to people in Ellesmere Port and Neston. There are more jobs and improved skills, better schools and hospitals, more help for families and more support for local businesses - that's what local people voted for and that's what we are delivering.'

The Institute of Directors said it was concerned the Chancellor's forecast of 3-3.5% GDP growth in 2004 and 2005 appeared optimistic. It warned if the forecasts were wrong, the tax burden would rise more than already projected. dangerous claims are being made by Catholic priests in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

'The Catholic Church does great humanitarian work across the world, but in this instance it is exploiting the ignorance of poor people to promote a myth that will devastate their societies.'

Aid agency Christian Aid has also attacked the Vatican's attitude, claiming that condoms are an effective way of preventing HIV transmission.