NEWLY-elected St Helens North MP Dave Watts used his maiden speech in the House of Commons to re-iterate the case for a better government grant for the town.

The former St Helens Council leader, who has long been a vociferous opponent of the present grant system, brought in by the previous Tory government, called for a full review of how funds are allocated to local councils.

Dave, who also paid tribute to his predecessor John Evans, went on to welcome the Government's announcement that it would release £5 million over the next few years to improve public housing and to deal with homelessness.

He said: "St Helens is an industrial town, built on the back of the coal, glass and chemical industries. It is famous for its glass technology, its Beecham's powders, and of course, its rugby team. However, the town's industrial past has left it with its share of problems - large areas of derelict land and a low skill base.

"The local authority has been at the forefront of building a partnership between the private and public sector. That partnership is now regenerating the town. Despite the loss of more than 10,000 jobs in the past 10 years, in the coal, glass and chemical industries, new industries and jobs have been recreated. Recently it was announced that a multi-million pound indoor ski centre would be built in the Haydock part of my constituency."

He continued: "The local authority has managed to raise education and training standards above the national average and has created an improved environment, new development sites and new jobs for the people of St Helens.

"The partnership has achieved that success despite the fact that St Helens does not receive its fair share of national resources. It has been able to maintain its spending on education and social services only by becoming one of the most efficient and effective local authorities in the country, and by cutting other important council services and increasing council tax above the national average.

"I put on record my support for the release of capital receipts held by local authorities. It is a national scandal that local authorities have been forced to hold such capital receipts in their bank accounts and that construction workers have been left on the dole, while many families in towns such as St Helens are forced to live in sub-standard housing that is often cold, damp and lacking in basic facilities.

"Many communities and local authorities will welcome the announcement, which will allow councils and the private sector to begin the job of bringing homes up to a modern standard. It will also encourage the recruitment and training of the long-term unemployed."

And the new MP emphasised: "We are not expecting a larger local government cake, but we are expecting a fair slice of that cake to be given to towns and cities such as St Helens."

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