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Cameron's pledge for family help | Cameron's pledge for family help |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Conservative leader David Cameron says strong family values and social responsibility is the key to building a better future in the UK. | Conservative leader David Cameron says strong family values and social responsibility is the key to building a better future in the UK. |
Speaking at the Welsh Conservative party conference he said "family-friendly reform" was needed. | Speaking at the Welsh Conservative party conference he said "family-friendly reform" was needed. |
He said the party would "end the couple penalty in the benefits system that pays parents to live apart". | He said the party would "end the couple penalty in the benefits system that pays parents to live apart". |
And he told the Cardiff conference that parents with a child under 18 would be able to request more flexible working. | And he told the Cardiff conference that parents with a child under 18 would be able to request more flexible working. |
"We need to reduce family breakdown by reducing the pressures that help cause it," he said. | "We need to reduce family breakdown by reducing the pressures that help cause it," he said. |
"That's why we'll help families spend more time together." | "That's why we'll help families spend more time together." |
But he insisted that everyone played a part in helping society become "more responsible", including schools, doctors and police. | But he insisted that everyone played a part in helping society become "more responsible", including schools, doctors and police. |
Go to any hospital, school or police force and it's always the same: this Government will not let them get on with the job David Cameron | Go to any hospital, school or police force and it's always the same: this Government will not let them get on with the job David Cameron |
Mr Cameron said a key part of this was reducing the amount of paperwork many public servants needed to complete. | Mr Cameron said a key part of this was reducing the amount of paperwork many public servants needed to complete. |
He drew on an experience he had witnessed in mid Wales when he was out on the beat with a police officer. | He drew on an experience he had witnessed in mid Wales when he was out on the beat with a police officer. |
"A mother had come to him and said her son was nicking money out of her wallet," he told the party members. | "A mother had come to him and said her son was nicking money out of her wallet," he told the party members. |
"She wanted the policeman to give a stern warning, to paint a brief but dark picture of how small crimes lead to larger ones. | "She wanted the policeman to give a stern warning, to paint a brief but dark picture of how small crimes lead to larger ones. |
"And do you know how the officer had to handle it? | "And do you know how the officer had to handle it? |
"Because of all the targets, bureaucracy and paperwork, he had to take the child to the station, go through all the paperwork and caution him - so he could say he had detected a crime, solved a crime and cleared up a crime. | "Because of all the targets, bureaucracy and paperwork, he had to take the child to the station, go through all the paperwork and caution him - so he could say he had detected a crime, solved a crime and cleared up a crime. |
"If that was isolated it would be bad enough. | "If that was isolated it would be bad enough. |
"But go to any hospital, school or police force and it's always the same: this government will not let them get on with the job." | "But go to any hospital, school or police force and it's always the same: this government will not let them get on with the job." |
Regulate debt | Regulate debt |
Mr Cameron told the conference that a Conservative government would inherit the worst public finances of any incoming modern administration if the party wins the next election, with every child in Britain born owing £17,000. | Mr Cameron told the conference that a Conservative government would inherit the worst public finances of any incoming modern administration if the party wins the next election, with every child in Britain born owing £17,000. |
"We cannot continue on this irresponsible path. We need to live within our means," he said. | "We cannot continue on this irresponsible path. We need to live within our means," he said. |
He promised to bring "law and order" to the financial markets by restoring the Bank of England's power to regulate debt in the economy. | He promised to bring "law and order" to the financial markets by restoring the Bank of England's power to regulate debt in the economy. |
The warning from the Governor of the Bank about further tax-and-spend measures to revive the economy was a "big victory for responsibility", Mr Cameron said. | The warning from the Governor of the Bank about further tax-and-spend measures to revive the economy was a "big victory for responsibility", Mr Cameron said. |
"The prime minister who has spent and borrowed with no responsibility and no restraint, well this week he finally lost the argument." | "The prime minister who has spent and borrowed with no responsibility and no restraint, well this week he finally lost the argument." |
Business rates | Business rates |
Closing the conference, Welsh Conservative Leader Nick Bourne announced plans to exempt tens of thousands of small businesses from business rates. | Closing the conference, Welsh Conservative Leader Nick Bourne announced plans to exempt tens of thousands of small businesses from business rates. |
He said firms with a rateable value of up to £10,000 would, under a Tory-led assembly government, not have to pay business rates. | He said firms with a rateable value of up to £10,000 would, under a Tory-led assembly government, not have to pay business rates. |
Firms worth between £10,001 and £15,000 could have a 20% business rate cut. | Firms worth between £10,001 and £15,000 could have a 20% business rate cut. |
Nick Bourne closed the conference which had been held in Cardiff | |
The Conservatives estimate the business rate reduction scheme would cost £53m and benefit up to 90,000 firms. | The Conservatives estimate the business rate reduction scheme would cost £53m and benefit up to 90,000 firms. |
Mr Bourne pledged to make small businesses "a priority" if Conservatives take power after the 2011 assembly election. | Mr Bourne pledged to make small businesses "a priority" if Conservatives take power after the 2011 assembly election. |
He argued that the scheme could be funded through "restoring balance" to the assembly government's finances. | He argued that the scheme could be funded through "restoring balance" to the assembly government's finances. |
The Welsh Tory leader accused Welsh ministers of "pandering to populism" through gimmicks and giveaways which had "whittled down" the public purse. | The Welsh Tory leader accused Welsh ministers of "pandering to populism" through gimmicks and giveaways which had "whittled down" the public purse. |
Mr Bourne also announced plans for a Welsh manufacturing strategy and "sustainable energy schemes" to produce more green jobs. | Mr Bourne also announced plans for a Welsh manufacturing strategy and "sustainable energy schemes" to produce more green jobs. |