for

Not only has the Conservative Party faced a turbulent time but so has the country as a whole
!e have been sub"ect to attac#s from cowardly terrorists and the country must stand united
a$ainst those who wish to stri#e fear into our hearts !e must not let that ha%%en If we let
them scare us and disru%t our daily lives then they have won and that is somethin$ that must
never ha%%en
This country needs more dis%lays of bi%artisanshi% The %eo%le may elect a ma"ority but we
cannot i$nore the views of those who did not vote for us !e need to wor# with others at times
and must listen to those who may be in the minority &et us unite and let this country %ros%er
'ours(
Rt Hon George Hunt MP
The Prime )inister and &eader of the Conservative Party
It has been a turbulent few months for the Conservative Party and
now is the time for us to unite
The Conservative Party has always been full of those with stron$
convictions and ideals That is somethin$ that we should all be
%roud of No matter who you s%ea# to inside the %arty head*uarters
or out on the doorste% s%ea#in$ to the %ublic( the %assion in their
voice when s%ea#in$ is heart+warmin$
!hat the Conservative %arty needs and what the %ublic wants is a
fresh face who can unite everyone around them and someone with a
The Conservatives are the only %arty who are standin$ u% and
tac#lin$ the issues !e recently made the first of our chan$es to the
social services system A vital chan$e to %rotect our children that
%assed on by uncommented on by o%%osition members !e chan$ed
our %olice officers uniform to a more %ractical and safe alternative
that brin$s with it a multitude of benefits( somethin$ else that went
by unnoticed by the o%%osition !e are be$innin$ to see a %arty The
o%%osition will be the first to the %ress if someone ma#es a sli% of the
ton$ue but won,t comment on when the Government ma#es vital
chan$es to the systems of this country That,s not who you want to
$overn 'ou want %eo%le who act on the issues and can coo%erate
with other %arties for the benefit of the country
fresh set of ideals and %olicies to %ave the way for a %ros%erous Britain This country needs a
stron$ Conservative Government to do that and that is what we are aimin$ for in the u%comin$
General -lection
end of the recession !e re%laced the %oll ta. with a fair Council Ta. that wor#s for the low+%aid(
elderly and unem%loyed
Our five year economic %ro$ramme comes with a series of aims for the year /001( to brin$ the
British economy into the 2/st century
TAXES THAT WORK FOR THE ECONOMY
By /001( we %lan for
3 The basic rate of ta. to stand at 245
3 A new /4% ta. band for the lowest %aid
3 The basic rate of cor%oration ta. to stand at 265
3 Small business cor%oration ta. to stand at 245
This may sound ambitious( but it belies a sim%le truth7 the less %eo%le are ta.ed( the harder they
wor#( the more wealth is $enerated and the more ta. is actually collected to fund our vital
%ublic services
TAXES THAT WORK FOR YOU
It is also my intention that within the first three years of a new Conservative $overnment( the
reduced rate of 8AT shall become the 9ero+rate of 8AT( encom%assin$
3 !heat %roducts( mai9e( rice and sor$hum
3 :ruits
3 8e$etables
3 )eats
!hen the Conservatives were elected in /010( we faced an economy
with inflation %ercenta$es in the twenties( mass industrial action( and
cri%%lin$ ta.es on all sectors of society
Since then( we have weathered the storms and now stand with a
stron$er economy The recent recession is comin$ to an end( with
$rowth e.%ected to be restored( and inflation headin$ bac# down to
our 2+;5 tar$et
In my tenure as Chancellor( we have seen ta.es $o down( the Ban# of
-n$land em%owered to set interest rates( em%loyment $o u% and the
3 )il# and dairy %roducts
3 Na%%ies
3 !omen<s sanitary %roducts
This is because certain necessities of life e.ist to #ee% body and s%irit to$ether( and I ho%e to
ma#e them as accessible as %ossible
:urthermore( we believe stron$ly that lon$+term ta.%ayers and savers should be able to rea% the
benefits of their lifelon$ contributions to the fullest e.tent %ossible + chan$es would be made to
allow %eo%le to ta#e a lar$er %ortion of their %ension as a cash lum% sum
THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY ECONOMY
The Coal Industry Act will allow this $overnment to continue the turnin$ over of bloated state
industries to %rivate hands Our %ro$rammes streamlinin$ British Rail and %rivatisin$ British
Coal have and will entail "ob losses( but all those made redundant have and will receive
retrainin$( as the %roceeds of these windfalls are shared fairly
A Conservative $overnment will not %rivatise everythin$( only those industries which need it
The Royal )ail and British Rail shall remain in state hands !e will im%rove com%etitiveness in
the water industry by brea#in$ u% the re$ional *uasi+mono%olies and allowin$ new com%anies
to be re$istered( sub"ect to statutory controls
!ith revolutions in communication such as the %ortable tele%hone and car %hone( and the
s%read of fa. machines( the economy is lea%in$ into the future I would establish a committee
tas#ed with loo#in$ into how $overnment and business can em%loy <tele+commutin$< to cut
down on traffic and office s%ace
Traditional industries are shrin#in$( but new ones are risin$ to ta#e their %lace The
Conservatives are the %arty of business( $rowth and the ordinary wor#in$ man and woman
To$ether( let<s ste% into the future
'ours(
Rt Hon Charles Delahunt MP
The Chancellor of the -.che*uer
The world is forever chan$in$ + we are currently seein$ and hearin$ of the conflicts in the )iddle
-ast and South Africa
At the time of %ublication( ne$otiations are still on$oin$ with Commonwealth nations about the
mar#et %rovides o%%ortunity and it would be naive of us not to for$e such lin#s where %ossible
Turnin$ to the Ira*=>uwait confla$ration( we said all alon$ that we would not "oin the Coalition
and we stood by that %romise( by international law and by the decision of the ?NSC The
Conservative Party will continue to su%%ort the ?N with British soldiers available for
%eace#ee%in$ missions !hile retainin$ Britain<s decision+ma#in$ inde%endence and res%ect for
international law and the sanctity of the ?NSC<s resolutions( we acce%t that the S%ecial
Relationshi% with the ?nited States of America has become unnecessarily strained in recent times(
and the Prime )inister is %resently ma#in$ efforts to re%air any brid$es which have been burnt A
Conservative Government will embrace our transatlantic lin#s( see#in$ to e.%and trade and co+
o%eration
Tal#s were conducted with &ibyan officials concernin$ the e.tradition of the &oc#erbie bombers
to the ?> for a fair trial ?nfortunately( these discussions ended without a$reement and it is of
%aramount im%ortance that whoever the ne.t :orei$n Secretary( whoever they may be( ta#e this
matter to the ?N immediately
!e will wor# more closely with forei$n nations to tac#le $lobal terrorism and crimes a$ainst
humanity !e will endeavour to ma#e sure that current and future overseas aid will only be
available to nations that re*uest and use it for the a%%ro%riate means In -uro%e( it is not in
Britain<s best interests that we are dealt a bad hand in the )aastricht Treaty tal#s !e will only
ma#e a$reements on what is ri$ht( in areas which will be $ood for our country( and where chan$es
would be com%atible with the fundamental soverei$nty of our Parliament
The !orld is ra%idly develo%in$ and a Conservative Government will do everythin$ %ossible to
ma#e sure the nation does not sta$nate or decline as a $lobal leader
'ours(
Rt Hon Nile Star MP
The :orei$n Secretary
situation in South Africa !e have offered to host tal#s between South
Africa<s leaders( and we would encoura$e them to acce%t )ediated tal#s
and a di%lomatic solution are our ideal scenario
The Commonwealth will always be close to the heart of a Conservative
Government( and it is for this reason that we de%loyed troo%s to Sierra
&eone( a humanitarian effort which has hel%ed to save lives( but must of
course be #e%t %ro%ortionate to the British interest !e intend to %ursue
closer lin#s with our fellow Commonwealth nations and continue to
create and maintain tradin$ relations throu$hout the !orld The $lobal
@urin$ a brief but challen$in$ %eriod( this Conservative
Government has %eriodically had to face disorder and villainy on
our streets from rioters( terrorists and common criminals But never
once have we bac#ed down !e reintroduced the death %enalty for
serious lawbrea#ers( which has since been used to deliver robust
"ustice to murderers !e u%$raded %olice uniform so that our
officers can feel secure in securin$ our streets !e ensured forei$n
criminals would be re%atriated !e increased Aome Office fundin$
by B2bn( boosted the numbers of %olice officers by C4(444 as
recommended( as well %rovidin$ the re*uested levels of fundin$ for
other %ro"ects( %ro$rams and the Border A$ency Now( our %lan is to
ma#e Britain safer by connectin$ %olicin$ with communities( ensurin$ firearm safety(
investi$atin$ accountably( eliminatin$ waste to reinvest in frontline services( and tou$henin$
u% our %rison system to add further deterrence !e are committed to a modern( %ractical and
effective Aome Office which serves the %ublic and serves "ustice
!e will lar$ely follow the recommendations of the Cullen Re%ort which was commissioned in
the wa#e of the tra$ic events in @unblane )ulti+shot %istols will be %rohibited !arrants will be
$ranted to revo#e firearm certificates where there is Da substantial ris# to the safety of the
%ublicD( or where the Chief Police Officer believes there is $ood reason to confiscate( sub"ect to
a%%eal All hand$un licenses will be de%endent u%on the holder<s successful com%letion of a
%sychometric D:it and Pro%er Person TestD which ensures firearms are in as safe and stable hands
as %ossible There will be a si.+month trial of armed officers in volunteer %olice areas( %rovided
that no more than C45 of officers carry $uns( and they are used s%arin$ly( when there is an
imminent and immediate threat by an armed criminal to the life of a citi9en or %olice officer
But on the $rassroots level( it is a vi$ilant %ublic which is best e*ui%%ed
to immediately inhibit crime and disorder Conservative Governments
in recent years have had $reat success with the e.%ansion of
Nei$hbourhood !atch schemes( but there is more wor# yet to do A
fund will be created so that $rou%s in need can %urchase
communications devices( cameras( %rofessional leaflets( stic#ers(
incident re%ort cards( si$ns( etc :inance will come from a Aome Office
Panel for -fficiency EAOP-F( com%osed of former law enforcement
%ersonnel( members of civil society and accountancy e.%erts( who will
see# to eliminate waste and reinvest savin$s wisely in order to %rovide
the ta.%ayer with the $reatest value for their money If red ta%e or %a%erwor# can "ustly be
slashed( we will shift resources away from some of the /;G(444 %olice administrators and
towards beat %olicin$
h
!e will review sentencin$ for all offences( see#in$ %articularly to tou$hen u% drin#+drivin$ law
)oreover( community %olicin$ itself must be considered a %ivotal %art
of crime %revention !e are %roud of the wor# %erformed by our
S%ecial Officers( who should be $iven the most u%+to+date e*ui%ment
and trainin$ to ensure they can liaise with communities while
simultaneously deterrin$ the build+u% of criminal elements Standin$
%resently at "ust over H(/44 in membershi%( we will launch a new
recruitment drive to e.%and the ran#s of the S%ecials( aimin$ to brin$
bac# trust in our law enforcement officials in those certain areas where
it has been undeniably lac#in$ to some e.tent
Believin$ as we do in an accountable law enforcement system( an inde%endently+run %ublic
in*uiry will be o%ened into %olicin$ %ractices durin$ the Poll Ta. Riots( which we ho%e will
e.onerate the vast ma"ority of officers( who did their utmost to u%hold the Iueen<s Peace
durin$ those dar# days of disorder If new forms of non+contact or non+lethal crowd
mana$ement can be introduced( any recommendations will be duly considered !e have
already ta#en ste%s to modernise %olice attire( with duty belts( stab vests( and hi$h+visibility
"ac#ets im%rovin$ safety( mobility and reco$nisability
Our %rison system must be run as cost+effectively as %ossible( to %revent over+crowdin$ and free
u% resources in the event that more s%aces must be built due to %o%ulation $rowth Prison
meals should be %rovided at the lowest cost %ossible( and alon$ with healthcare( should only be
%rovided free of subse*uent char$e where a means test has established inability to %ay !or#
ethic( collaborative s%irit and self+disci%line values will be fostered in able+bodied inmates
throu$h the formation of chain+$an$s to %rovide community services such as %aintin$ over
$raffiti( clearin$ land( %ic#in$ u% litter( di$$in$ ditches( and so on This labour will be rewarded
with showerin$ and recreational %rivile$es( which will not be en"oyed by non+%artici%ants
?ltimately( we believe %rison should be a %lace of re%entance and rebuildin$ for those who have
been convicted of criminal acts by their %eers In our ne.t term( that will be the bottom line
!ith the British Nationality Act /0H/( we ended birthri$ht citi9enshi%(
meanin$ that nationality is only $ranted to those born here who have at
least one settled resident as their %arent( and citi9enshi% %urely based on
marria$e !ith the Immi$ration And Criminal Sanctions Act /004( we
ensured that ille$al immi$rants are tried and de%orted( and we don<t allow
forei$n criminals to a%%ly for residence in the ?> But many ordinary
%eo%le still worry that in the comin$ years( our country could be
fundamentally transformed by a flood of immi$ration !e %ro%ose a strict
and no+nonsense %lan of action( to ensure that mi$rants contribute to
British society financially( and inte$rate with it socially( culturally
and lin$uistically A ma.imum of G4(444 $uest wor#ers will be allowed into the country each
year( on five+year %ermits( at the end of which %eriod they may a%%ly for British citi9enshi% or
for a five+year e.tension of their stay A new Citi9enshi% and )i$ration Processin$ Office
ECa)POF will be set u%( and will determine which $uest wor#er a%%licants will receive the
G4(444 %ermits + all of whom must be recommended by a ?> business( and desi$nated to fill a
s%ecific "ob vacancy which cannot be ade*uately %erformed by a British citi9en A%%rovals will
be based on -n$lish lan$ua$e ability( *uality of life in country of ori$in( %hysical and mental
soundness( and ca%acity for self+reliance Guest wor#ers will not be $iven free access to welfare
or housin$ benefits for the duration of their %ermit( e.ce%t for NAS treatment( which will be
available after the $uest has %aid their way with a year of ta. contributions British citi9enshi%
for $uest wor#ers will be $ranted if an a%%licant is a%%roved by their local community( who will
be $iven new %owers to vote on their area<s %ros%ective citi9ens on a ballot sheet durin$ the
same day as local council elections The number of forei$n students at ?> universities shall be
unaffected by these chan$es
broadcastin$ before the watershed which is deemed $rossly offensive to the %ublic morality( and
safe$uard hi$h+*uality informative %ro$rammin$ on the BBC and Channel ; A new( fifth
terrestrial T8 channel will be created and sold to the most suitable a%%licant( as will si.th and
seventh stations if there is sufficient demand The re*uirement for Ddue im%artialityD will be
removed from television and radio stations( and ownershi% rules dere$ulated( so that free
s%eech and robust e.%ressions and e.chan$es of o%inion are restored as ma"or facets of British
media 8acant or underused A) and :) radio fre*uencies will be used to launch an e.citin$
raft of new local and national commercial and community stations
It is time for an e.%erienced but revitali9ed Government which is stron$ on crime( stron$ on
terror( stron$ on immi$ration( stron$ on community %olicin$ and stron$ on broadcast freedom
&et that %latform be the Conservative Party<s %led$e to you
'ours(
Rt Hon Stephen Gale MP
The Aome Secretary
As re$ards broadcastin$( our country<s airwaves are lon$+overdue
a com%rehensive liberalisation The BBC license fee will be made
o%tional( with services e.clusive to fee+%ayers( allowin$ viewers
to determine the correct amount of resources allocated to our
national broadcaster( whose efficiency will also be im%roved by
settin$ a %ro$ramme outsourcin$ *uota and favourin$ outside
%roduction facilities wherever %ossible Television and radio
%ro$rammin$ will be overseen by a more rela.ed su%ervisor7 the
Re$ulatory Office for the &icensin$ of Broadcast O%erations
EROf&BrOF( while maintainin$ stron$ %owers to re$ulate
At a time when there is conflict throu$hout the world( it is
im%ortant to the Conservative Party that the nation maintains and
modernises our defence system
!e too# a tou$h decision stayin$ out of the coalition to face Saddam
Aussein<s re$ime !e res%ected and abided by the ?NSC<s decision
!e would7
3 -nsure our forces have the best and most modern e*ui%ment
available to them
3 -nable reserve forces to %lay a more active role in o%erations
3 &oo# into the %ossibility of inte$ratin$ servicewomen into re$ular army units
3 Review any restrictions throu$hout the navy and air force on female military %ersonnel
3 !or# to$ether with )O@ staff to %romote )ilitary :estival @ays throu$hout the ?>(
rememberin$ our history and %rovidin$ an insi$ht into military life
Britain<s defence would be in tatters if there were a &abour Government !e saw the destruction
the O%%osition would cause to the )inistry of @efence in their last Shadow Bud$et Only a
Conservative Government can and will hel% our servicemen and women continue to %rotect the
nation !e than# every sin$le one of them for that brave wor#
'ours(
Rt Hon Malcolm Rifkind MP
Secretary of State for @efence
Parliament and will be able to res%ond to *ueries about each branch of our intelli$ence services
Our intelli$ence services are an inte$ral %art of our nation<s security
In recent years we have seen fundamental chan$es to the way that they
wor# This bein$ that the Conservative Government officially
reco$nised what was then #nown as )I6 and GCAI on statute thus
allowin$ them to be held to account !e then went a ste% further and
$rou%ed all our intelli$ence services to$ether under the umbrella of
the newly+created ?nified Intelli$ence Bureau These chan$es allowed
our intelli$ence services to coo%erate more efficiently( thus
stren$thenin$ our national security They also made it easier for
Parliament to hold our intelli$ence services to account Now they are
$rou%ed under one Cabinet Secretary who must answer *uestions in
In order to further ma#e our intelli$ence services more accountable to Parliament( we ma#e
the followin$ %led$es
3 !e will be$in the %rocess of declassifyin$ old intelli$ence o%erations and files in order to
$ive a fuller %icture of Britain,s history and Britain<s %revious actions
3 The heads of the intelli$ence services will attend yearly hearin$s of the Aome Affairs Select
Committee where they will res%ond to *uestions by the committee members and more often if
summoned by the committee The hearin$s will be held in %rivate and a re%ort of the hearin$s
will be made %ublic after sensitive material is redacted
!e also ma#e a %led$e to continue what we started in the %revious bud$et and em%loy more
officers to deal with the $rowin$ covert threats from abroad and $ive our intelli$ence services
the necessary fundin$ to do their "obs !ithout the necessary fundin$( we cannot e.%ect our
intelli$ence services to be able to effectively counter terrorist threats and #ee% our country
safe
'ours(
Rt Hon Michael Howard MP
Secretary of State for Security J Intelli$ence
EDUCATION
!ith bills which were introduced in the %revious term( em%loyment
numbers are e.%ected to rise in the educational field Graduates will be
able to share their s#ills with new students more easily than ever
before As lon$ as there is a demand for education( there should be a
ca%acity available to em%loy teachers
Teachin$ children is not only an honourable occu%ation( it is a
critically vital one as well Teachers are the a ma"or %art of a student<s
life( and their futures will be effected by the *uality of education that
they receive This $oes without sayin$( but it also hi$hli$hts the fact
that teachers should be %aid wa$es that corres%ond with their
im%ortance
school staff( which is why Conservatives consider the treatment of teachers to be of the most
utmost im%ortance
!e would see the national curriculum revised and im%lemented as a minimum standard for
$raduates( as well as incentives for advanced course loads !e believe that a national standard
must be set and met in order to achieve the most %otential out of our students and e*ui% them
with additional s#ills to ta#e into the real world
!e would li#e to arran$e a widely+available system for immi$rants( refu$ees( and forei$n
students to learn basic education in -n$lish and %ractical s#ills such as %ersonal finance and
core maths s#ills In an inte$rated society such as our own( it is our res%onsibility to ensure
that a fair chance be $iven to citi9ens of forei$n birth to com%ete and succeed in our society
without fallin$ behind !e will not for$et about these citi9ens( and we will ensure that they
find a home that they can trust in the ?nited >in$dom
Students and families are fallin$ under the strain of
hi$h education costs for colle$e and university In the
last term( we demonstrated our intentions to %rovide
financial assistance to $raduates in the education field
by removin$ their debts after com%letin$ a wor#
contract This is the sort of action we would li#e to ta#e
in order to see teena$ers and adults encoura$ed to
further their studies( rather than seein$ it as bearin$ a
hefty %rice+ta$ To combat shorta$es in s#illed wor#ers for all areas of the country( not "ust
in education( brin$in$ our youn$ adults into the wor#force with confidence and freedom
will be the best way to $ive our %eo%le a reason to strive for their dreams !e believe that it
should cost less to $o enter hi$her education( and that is what we will wor# towards
!or#in$ conditions should be safer and more %ro%itious for all teachers and
-*uality in education is always a main concern( and it li#ely always will be This country is no
stran$er to forei$n nationals livin$ on our territory in order to receive a $ood education !e
would li#e to see all students $iven an o%%ortunity to %ursue their students without the fear of
scrutiny due to race( reli$ion( se.uality( or whatever the case may be As lon$ as citi9ens are
abidin$ the law( they should not face o%%osition to receivin$ an education !e would continue
to encoura$e those ri$hts and enable a system for minority+status individuals to have access to
a line of hel% and le$al $uidance to ensure that their ri$hts are bein$ %rotected
In an increasin$ demonstration of violence in schools over the last year( it has become
a%%arent that many educational facilities lac# the security to handle immediate res%onses to
critically dan$erous situations )ost often( attac#s are caused by mental instability due to
situations that could have %otentially been avoided !e would li#e to increase the availability
of mental health doctors for students( includin$ health %rofessionals who are trained to handle
e.treme forms of %sycholo$ical dama$e These health %rofessionals should be a re$ular %art of
the school system( and students should find them to be accessible at any time without cost in a
%rivate environment
SCIENCE
A $reater focus should be %laced u%on social science and ener$y efficiency in order to meet
the $rowin$ rate of technolo$ical advancement and %o%ulation demand As ener$y
consum%tion and urban density e.%and( it will be necessary to convert our infrastructure and
trans%ortation system to to one which can maintain our %o%ulation<s needs !ith increased
amounts of research( we can reali9e new o%%ortunities to im%rove our usa$e of non+renewable
materials and lean away from natural e.traction %rocesses that endan$er the lon$evity of our
world<s lifes%an
To do this( we would ma#e it easier for com%anies to conduct %roduct and mar#et research(
and institute national research %ro"ects that can be contracted to com%anies for ta. credit
Com%anies that bare the res%onsibility of national research are directly involved in the
develo%ment of the country<s well+bein$( and should be accredited as such
!e owe our %eo%le and our %lanet a clean way of
life which ensures our future $enerations a life
that they deserve That is why research is $oin$ to
%lay a vital role across the $lobe in a race to
re%lace unclean %ower with sustainable and
renewable ener$y This is a critical time for us to
harness the %otential of these resources( and it
would be our aim to see them used on a broader
scale across the country
:reedom of information is critical to the develo%ment of innovative technolo$y( and %ublic
trans%arency towards national research is an im%ortant ste% towards ac#nowled$in$ res%ect for
the %eo%le<s ri$ht to have a say in what direction our society is ta#in$ :or that reason( we would
li#e to loosen laws in order to %rovide access to information on $overnment research for
%articular areas( but defence technolo$ies will continue to be under %rotection
The use of animals in research was a to%ic that was visited in /0H6( but we would li#e to see
that %rocess ta#en a ste% further in order to hei$hten restrictions for obtainin$ licences for
tests on animals Currently( the system is %artially assessed on the cost+%otential of the %ro"ect(
but we believe that this sort of license should be limited to research that is only for the %ur%ose
of health benefits )edicine and disease research would not be hindered( but tests that are for
the sole %ur%ose of mar#et or %roduct research would not be %ermitted @urin$ our -C
Presidency( we will %ress to maintain or even u%$rade the standards for battery hens and
animals in transit
Trans%ortation is the main sta%le of our country<s economic well+bein$ :uel %rices( travel time(
and %roduction costs are all hindrances to our country<s ability to conduct business Increases
in trans%ortation research must be met in order to develo% methods to im%rove our a$in$
system !ith new advances in hi$h+s%eed trains( innovations in naval travel( and an ever+
increasin$ use of air trans%ort( it is im%erative that we modernise our ca%abilities in order to
"ustify im%rovin$ the trans%ortation system
By encoura$in$ car manufacturers which reside within our country to see# more efficient
desi$ns for clean( fast( and safe travel( we will see an accelerated rate of economic efficiency
Car com%anies which desi$n a line of vehicles whose %ur%ose is to reduce %ollution will be
entitled to ta. relief on the direct sale of those vehicles -ntitlement would be sub"ect to the
discretion of a new committee( whose res%onsibility is to mana$e environmentally+friendly
desi$ned vehicles and determine benchmar# $oals Overall( we would not only see an increase
in sales for those environmentally+friendly models due to a lower ta.( we would have a hi$her
incentive to develo% and im%lement those ty%es of desi$n within re$ular society
&ivin$ in a cleaner( more efficient way of life is a matter of habit( and it is our intention to
re$ularise the everyday usa$e of the most modern technolo$ies available for the betterment of
society
'ours(
Rt Hon Peter Lilley MP
Secretary of State for -ducation J Science
HEALTH
The National Aealth Service has a %ast( a %resent and a bri$ht future under a Conservative
Government !e believe that we need to find new strate$ic ways to develo% the structure of the
NAS and also u%$rade the *uality of the %rovided services In that s%irit( if elected7
!e will create a new strate$ic %lan for the continuous develo%ment of the National Aealth
Service
!e will continue to invest in our annual bud$ets in order to lower !aitin$ Times and to sort any
future staff shorta$es that may occure because we believe in fiscal res%onsibility and lon$ term
%lannin$ in the health field too
!e will ma#e %lans for havin$ women occu%y mana$erial and %rofessional %osts
!e will ma#e sure that a maternity leave or a career brea# will not cost to the women who a%%ly
for them !e will ma#e sure that u%on their return they will occu%y a same %rofile and status
%osition
!e will introduce %owers for nurses to %rescribe where a%%ro%riate
!e will set health ob"ectives to be achieved by the end /000( includin$ reductions in illness and
death from heart disease and cancers with a com%rehensive %lan !e will submit a new National
Aealth Service Constitution in order to further reform its structure
!e will le$islate in order to have total e*uality between women and men re$ardin$ their
%ensions on the social security field
!e will continue to %rovide the child benefit to all mothers and for all their children ensurin$
that we will maintain one of our social security cornerstone %olicies
The Conservative and ?nionist Party holds dear the health of the
citi9ens of this country @urin$ the last years( under the five
Conservative )inistries we witnessed hu$e ste%s towards a better
health system Now( in the doorste% of a new millennium we are
called to continue our %lans and have our a$enda benefit everyone
!e believe in hel%in$ and buildin$ a society in which everyone will
be su%%orted Our health and care system as also our social services
are essential for this Party 8oluntary services are also hi$h valued by
the Conservative and ?nionist Party
SOCIAL SERVICES
After tal#s with both the re%resentatives from Child&ine and the Social Services( we have
a$reed to reform the sets of *uestions as#ed to children who are the focus of abuse cases(
ma#in$ sure that these *uestions are not leadin$
!e are also committed to7
3 Removin$ certain tar$ets from the Social Services so that they can concentrate on their "obs(
meanin$ that they are not forced to %ush for court or other action( where evidence may not be
sufficient( and to ensure that they can be sure that abuse has ta#en %lace( rather than bein$
rushed in their "ob
3 -nsurin$ that "ud$es are trained e.tensively in child abuse cases( so that they are better
informed of what to loo# for to ma#e an accurate "ud$ement
3 &oo#in$ at introducin$ a set of minimum criteria that needs to be matched for a case to be
ta#en to court( to ensure that %eo%le are not bein$ char$ed with abusin$ children( when they
are innocent
If you want a reliable National Aealth Service( a fair and balanced social security system
%romotin$ e*uality and carin$ for families( %ensioners and disabled %eo%le you can trust the
Conservative Party at the /002 General -lection
'ours(
Rt Hon dward Harris MP
Secretary of State for Aealth J !elfare
!e will im%lement a new scheme durin$ the :inance Act
of /002 in order to %rovide further B244m to almost
244(444 sic# and disabled %eo%le
!e will continue to encoura$e and believe in the wor#s of
volunteers in the health sector
!e will hold a %eace conference between the ??P( @?P( A&& and S@&P !e believe that
dialo$ue and democracy is the best way to achieve %eace in Northern Ireland !ith this s%irit we
shall invite all the democratic %owers of the re$ion in a round table in order to achieve and seal
a new settlement of %eace and order
!e will ur$e all %aramilitaries to be$in the %rocess of decommissionin$ their wea%ons All sides
in this conflict have to %ut their wea%ons down !e will not cherry+%ic# which $rou%s shall cease
their %aramilitary actions -veryone must do so
!e will create an or$ani9ation for Scottish Natural Aerita$e in order to %reserve the natural
environment of Scotland The *uality of air( of water and rivers is essential !e will $o further
and establish the Scottish -nvironmental Protection A$ency which will hel% in this area of
environmental %rotection
!e will increase our su%%ort for the :A bid to host the football -uro%ean Cham%ionshi% in /006
as well as our su%%ort for )anchester<s bid to host the Olym%ic Games in the year 2444
!ales needs stron$ reform in trans%ort !e will invest in road im%rovements and will com%lete
the current %ro"ects underway
!e will continue with our record hos%ital buildin$ %ro$ramme
'ours(
Rt Hon !ohn Redwood MP
Secretary of State for Re$ions J Culture
The Conservative and ?nionist Party believes in the ?nion of the
?nited >in$dom !e will do everythin$ in our %ower to ensure that
the ?nion will be continued and will be even stron$er in the future
Of course( the %eo%le of Northern Ireland( Scotland and !ales have
their own re*uests and demands from the central Government in the
mainland !e are here to listen to them and to offer them the
alternatives they need in order to have a stron$ ?nion which will
res%ect the s%ecial characteristics of each re$ion In order to achieve
that( the Conservative and ?nionist Party( if elected7
:are levels will be set to reflect the standard of the service %rovided( discounts will be available on
any service which does not meet the re*uired minimum standard re*uired of any train service
!e will continue the wor# that has started on the Channel Tunnel rail lin#
!e will continue to ma#e savin$s on British Rail by havin$ annual reviews of %ractices to see if
any further savin$s can be made + any savin$s made will be reinvested into im%rovin$ the rollin$
stoc# and trac# In the life of the ne.t %arliament( we will be loo#in$ to %ut a tender out for our
ne.t $eneration of rollin$ stoc#
ROADS
!e will embar# on a road renewal %ro$ramme which will ma#e our roads safer as well as
ma#in$ them more able to co%e with the increasin$ levels of traffic !e will encoura$e all local
councils to introduce cycle lanes into these new roads( amon$ others
!e will loo# at ways of increasin$ the %enalties for uninsured drivers
AVIATION
!e will im%lement the recommendations of our recent meetin$ with the civil aviation authority
which will see our main air%orts embar# on a ma"or buildin$ %ro$ramme
!e will also encoura$e our re$ional air%orts to see# %rivate investment and ownershi% so that
they can $row and %rovide a im%roved service
'ours(
Rt Hon "e#in "night MP
Secretary of State for Trans%ort J -nvironment
RAILWAYS
The Conservative Party believe that British Rail can %lay a bi$$er
%art in res%ondin$ to Britain<s $rowin$ trans%ort needs
!e will introduce a %assen$ers< charter which will hel% to raise the
*uality of the service %rovided by British Rail In this charter we will
for the first ever time set %erformance tar$ets which will widely
%ublished and ri$orously monitored