Hull MP launches Fair Deal for Hull petition

Diana Johnson MP today launched the Fair Deal for Hull petition against the level of cuts in local services being imposed on Hull by the Coalition Government.

Over the past two years Hull's funding has been cut by £163.50 per head, compared to the national average of £74 per head.

On top of the cuts already made to local services over the past two years, this year Hull City Council is having to make further cuts in services such as refuse collection, school transport and libraries - while increasing meals on wheels prices and the Council Tax.

The Hull North MP is launching the Fair Deal for Hull campaign on the day that the House of Commons will debate the Government's proposals on local government funding distribution for the next year.

The Fair Deal for Hull petition to the House of Commons, reads:

"To the House of Commons. The Petition of Citizens of Hull declares their belief that Hull has been hit by an unfairly large share of the cuts imposed on local councils by the Coalition Government. We note that these cuts have so far amounted to £163.50 per person in Hull ? more than double the national average of £74 per person. We further note that Hull is due to lose 7.2% more in the two years until 2015, and that Hull City Council would have millions more to spend on local services and to keep the council tax down if Hull was given fairer funding. We ask the House of Commons to urge the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to give Hull a Fair Deal. The Petitioners remain, etc."

The Fair Deal for Hull petition is available for anyone in Hull wanting to help collect petition signatures from the petition page of Diana Johnson MP's website at www.dianajohnson.co.uk or from her office at 01482 319135.

Diana Johnson MP said: "Whatever people think about the Government's overall cut to local government funding nationally, it's a fact that Hull has been hit by a bigger than average share of this cut. It's grossly unfair to people in the tenth most deprived local authority area in the country.

"In the past two years, Hull has lost £163.50 for each person, compared with a national average loss of £74 per head. Hull has also taken a far bigger share of Government council funding cuts than many wealthier areas in the South. North Dorset lost only £2.70 per head.

"From April, Hull will lose a further 7.2% in spending power up to 2015. In the same period David Cameron's West Oxford actually gets a 1.1% increase. Hull City Council is also having to increase the Council Tax by 1.95%, ending the previous freeze. This comes at a time when incomes are already being squeezed, food and fuel prices rise and hundreds of local jobs are being lost.

"Coalition benefit changes this April, combined with the pressure on local authorities, will see the poorest now forced to pay towards these higher Council Tax bills. This comes in the same week as 8,000 millionaires will get an average windfall of £107,000 from the cut to the 50p rate.

"Hull people are paying for a global economic crisis caused five years ago in the banking industry, and for two years of zero growth under the current Government, by seeing their local services cut again. Local services that will be hit include refuse collection, school transport and SureStart children's centres.

"I want Hull people to come together to back the campaign to get a Fair Deal for Hull."