REVELATIONS in this year's budget by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown will lead to more money being made available for schools in the area, according to local Labour MP Ann Keen, who is personal private secretary to the Chancellor.

An extra £8.5 billion has been announced for UK education in 2007-08 and an increase of £60 billion will be made available for public services, moves welcomed by the MP for the Brentford and Isleworth constituencies.

Ann Keen said: "It is a win budget for people and public services. For the first time we have a government committed to long term investment."

As Mr Brown promised that all secondary schools will be refurbished by 2015, Mrs Keen added: "The Labour Government will invest in Hounslow's schools and the health service and today's budget reflects local people's priorities."

These sentiments were echoed by Caspar Delaney, Governor of Strand on the Green Junior School, Chiswick: "The increased investment announced today for primary schools is much needed and warmly welcomed"

And after Hounslow Borough Council's recently announced Council Tax increase pensioners will also find relief in Mr Brown's announcement.

Alan Sheerins, Vice Chair of the Brentford & Isleworth Labour Party said :"We know that some pensioners who are often on fixed incomes can find paying their council tax difficult, so the news of £100 extra for pensioners aged 70 plus is important."

Beer drinkers will find an extra penny added onto the price of their pint and smokers will have to cough up an extra eight pence for every packet.