Michael Edwards for South Derbyshire

Whilst we wait for the Tories to announce their tax and spending plans, a quick summary of the progress made in South Derbyshire shows –

·         around 530 extra NHS staff serving us since 1997;   

·         1,300 waiting 13 weeks or more for treatment in 1997, as opposed to around 35 now;  

·         Notionally 30 more police officers serving us now;  

·         4 Sure Start Children’s Centres;  

·         80 extra primary school teachers in our schools;

·         120 extra secondary school teachers in our schools;

·         260 extra teaching assistants and 130 more support staff;  

·         Business payment support arrangements for 400 businesses, probably worth £7m (in the last year);  

·         6,000 children’s trust vouchers issued;  

·         Over 4,000 households receiving pension credits, helping the elderly most in need;  

·         Nearly 7,000 families receiving the child element of the family tax credit, to help over 13,000 children;  

·         Over 14,000 families receiving child benefit, to help nearly 27,000 children.  

TO BE UPDATED