The Word On The Street - Scrapping of fuel duty rise and increasing tax allowances welcomed
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne seen on TV screens during the Budget announcement at a John Lewis store, Solihull, West Midlands. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday March 20, 2013. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire
As Chancellor George Osborne delivered his 2013 Budget speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the thoughts of many in West Norfolk focused on the impact of the new measures on their pockets.
Key in those thoughts were the scrapping of the 3p rise in fuel duty due to be introduced in September and more help for homebuyers in getting on the ladder.
Rises in the personal tax allowance from the current £8,105 for the under 65s to £9,440 for the 2013-14 tax year – and £10,000 the following year – have also been generally welcomed.
We took to the streets of Lynn to get personal views from shoppers on this year’s Budget.
Narborough man John Collins, 66, a security manager for a large information technology company, was particularly interested in the income tax proposals as he is planning on retiring at the end of July.
He said: “I know the Chancellor said the limit would rise to £10,000 in 2014 but what’s not been clarified is how that affects the personal allowances for existing pensioners.”
Doreen Hooper, 68, from South Quay, Lynn, welcomed the increased personal tax allowances, but said: “I would have liked the interest rate to have gone up for people like us with savings who rely on that.”
Her husband, Brian, 73, said: “We still have a car so it’s good for us that the fuel duty will not be going up by 3p in September.
“We also welcome the help for homebuyers as our grandchildren are coming up to the age where that will benefit them.”
Lorry driver Geoffrey Bartlett, 64, of Linseed Walk, Downham, said: “I think he (the Chancellor) should actually have dropped the fuel duty, as they keep putting these prices up and it’s the consumer who pays for it in the end.”
College student Geena Price, 17, of Philip Nurse Road, Dersingham, also wanted to see fuel prices drop as people in rural areas needed cars to get around.
She said: “I think petrol should come down to about £1 a litre to help people here, as diesel is currently about £1.40.”
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
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Temperature: 5 C to 13 C
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