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save our services
$p2 Only a few days before the announcement of the General Election the
Tory Secretary of State for Scotland announced that it was his intention to 
take out an order in Parliament to force Lothian Region to cut its spending
by #15 million. If the Tories win the election LOCAL services will suffer.
$p2 A #15 Million cut in Lothians spending will mean:
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$b1$c-21For the Elderly: $t1$c-2 An end to free travel
$b0$c-2 Fewer Home Helps
$b0$c-2 Charges for Home Helps, Lunch clubs up again
$b2$c-21For Education: $t1$c-2 Fewer teachers meaning larger classes
$b0$c-2 Nursery places becoming more difficult to get
$b0$c-2 Badly kept schools as cleaning and maintainence staff are reduced
$b2$c-21 To Voluntary $b0 $c-15 Agencies: $t1 $c-2 Grants to organisations
such as youth clubs and those providing services for the elderly and housebound
will face drastic cuts.
$b2$c-21 Jobs: $t1$c-2 4,000 jobs have been lost in Lothian
in under 2 years. Redundancies would be inevitable if Lothian loses another
#15 Million.
$b2$c-21 Public Transport $t1 $c-2 Higher Bus fares
$b0 $c-2 Fewer and less frequent bus services.

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$p2 The Tory Price
$p2  Lothian has suffered particularly badly under Younger's axe.
In 1979 when the Tories took office Cental Government paid for 69$% of
Lothain's spending, now its down to 61$%. Cut back in Rate Support Grant
to local Councils means you pay more in rate for poorer services.
$p2 The Tories came to power pledged to abolish rates yet everywhere
in Scotland the rates burden has increased.  Only Labour id pledged to
put Local government back on a sound financial footing so that you get
the services you need at a price you can afford.
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