...

British PM unveils plan for building Britain's future

Other News Materials 30 June 2009 03:42 (UTC +04:00)

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown released a plan for building Britain's future in Parliament on Monday, which aims to make Britain a "fairer, stronger and more prosperous society", Xinhua reported.
   He said now is the right time to "forge a new economic and constitutional settlement" for Britain. "We will not walk away from people in challenging times. We will continue to fight for a fairer prosperity and a responsible society on the basis of our enduring values. This is not a job just for the government but for the country as a whole."
   "We have made enormous strides, driving up standards of health care and education; cutting crime and poverty and harnessing Britain's economic potential.
   "I wanted to talk today not just about what we have done or tried to do over the last 12 years, but what we must do next and what we can change to improve people's lives in the future," he said.
   According to the plan, the British government has made a range of commitments in the sectors of politics, economy and society. In the politics, the government will deliver a radical program of democratic and constitutional reform, including further reform of the House of Lords. In economic growth, the government will carry on an active industrial policy, including a 150 million pound Innovation Fund.
   In housing sector, the government will invest worth 1.5 billion pounds (about 2.11 billion U.S. dollars) over two years to deliver 20,000 new affordable homes and create 45,000 jobs in construction and related sectors. In employment, young people out of work for a year will have to take on a job, training or work experience.
   Patients will have more power such as hospital treatment within 18 weeks, access to cancer specialists within two weeks and free health-checks for those aged 40-74. Parents will be guaranteed an education tailored to all their children. Local people will have more say on local policing and crime prevention.
   A low carbon future will be ensured through energy efficiency and renewable energy plus incentives for low carbon transport.
   Brown said "I am determined that in this time of profound change, driven by the global economic downturn and the crisis of trust in our political system, the government will work even harder for you."
   In the coming months the government will release plans for key areas, including transport, infrastructure, financial services, social care, climate change and energy, life sciences and constitutional reform.

Latest

Latest