Aberdeenshire West Liberal Democrats

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

Malcolm Bruce MP for Gordon and Sir Robert Smith MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine met with the Secretary of State for Scotland to express their concern over the takeover of BMI by IAG, the company that owns British Airways.

Both MPs were concerned that the takeover would lead to a reduced number of flights between Aberdeen and Heathrow. Flights to Heathrow are particularly important as they allow the passenger to connect with onward flights to the rest of the world.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP today hit out at an NHS board after the Scottish Government ordered an investigation into its procedures.

Mrs McInnes was commenting as Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion accused Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board of 'perhaps the most serious catalogue of failings' for not handing over more than 50 reports on serious incidents at hospitals.

North East MPs Malcolm Bruce and Sir Robert Smith today congratulated local musical star, Emeli Sandé on her Brit Award success in Parliament.

Malcolm Bruce, MP for Gordon, submitted a motion congratulating Emeli for winning the Brits Critic's Choice award and noting her role in the wave of British music making an impact in the global music industry.

Commenting on an Audit Scotland report out today on cardiology services in Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said: "Audit Scotland's findings are deeply worrying.

"It is unacceptable that people in more deprived areas of Scotland may not be getting the care they need because of where they live.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP today criticised the Scottish Government as the plans to centralise the police took another twist.

She was commenting after Chief Constable Kevin Smith warned that police staff may bear the brunt of a potential £22 million annual VAT bill through the creation of the new Scottish national police force.

Sir Robert Smith, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, today called on the Scottish Government to hold the referendum on Scotland's future in the UK as soon as possible.

Speaking after questioning the Secretary of State for Scotland he said:

"Having spoken to a number of companies, they have told me that they are delaying investment decisions until the future of Scotland becomes clear. Waiting for another two and a half years to hold the referendum can only harm the Scottish and the UK economy."

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP today attacked the Scottish Government for disregarding parliament after it was revelead that the new Sottish police force will start operating in 2013.

Commenting on a statement from the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) that the single national police force is intended to begin operating from 1 April 2013, Mrs McInnes said: "It is truly astonishing that, before the Scottish Parliament has even begun its scrutiny of the proposals for a single national police force, ACPOS and the Scottish Government are already talking about the date when the new force will begin operations.