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Peter
Viggers, Member of Parliament for the Gosport constituency,
has again emphasised his support for the "Hands off Hampshire"
campaign, which is aimed at preventing Government grant being
removed from Hampshire and redistributed in urban authorities
in the North and Midlands.
Peter
said, "A majority of the Government's proposals will
see a substantial movement of funding away from the Shire
counties, including Hampshire. In our county, there is the
possibility of up to £80 million in grant funding -
10% of the County Council's budget. The result will be that
the Council will be faced with the impossible choice of imposing
huge increases in Council Tax, or cutting jobs and service
provision to local people. Reductions in services will affect
everyone, but will be especially hard upon those most in need."
"Myself
and colleagues will continue to press the matter in Parliament
whenever possible, but it is also important that local residents,
businesses and other interest groups voice their concerns
by writing to their MPs, and to the Deputy Prime Minister,
John Prescott.
"The
distribution of funding must be decided by discussion and
consensus - I sincerely hope that in the face of public disapproval,
the Government will not reach an unacceptable conclusion in
this matter".
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