A SUGAR tax on fizzy drinks has been praised by Worcester's MP - who has admitted to being "sceptical" about the idea until now.

More reaction to Chancellor George Osborne's Budget has poured in from around Worcestershire, including headteachers who are sceptical about extending school hours and concerned public sector pay campaigners.

With the sugar levy dominating headlines, Robin Walker has revealed how he's dropped his own personal opposition to it.

Mr Osborne has decided that the tax, which could add 8p to a typical fizzy drink once launched in 2018, will not apply to milk-based drinks or pure fruit juices.

Mr Walker said: "My concern was that if you put an extra tax on all sugary drinks and food, like white bread for example, it would end up actually hitting the people who can least afford it.

"This won't have that same regressive effect - I had been sceptical about this, but I think he's come up with a good well-designed policy."

We revealed yesterday how the tax will raise £520 million a year to be pumped into school sports.

Meanwhile Neil Morris, the headteacher of Christopher Whitehead Language College, says he is not convinced later school opening hours will make a difference.

As well as converting all schools to academies by 2022, Mr Osborne is offering £285 million so 25 per cent of secondaries can stay open beyond 3.30pm for extra-curricular sessions.

Mr Morris said: "We already open from 7.30am until gone five in the evening, we've got 24 extra curricular activities.

"I often have to kick the kids out myself when I go at six."

He said the Government may find the take-up less successful than it hopes because so many offer extra clubs now and would be unwilling to put extra demands on staff.

The move to insist all primaries and secondaries must become academies has been welcomed by one legal firm.

Esther Maxwell, a solicitor from Worcester's Harrison Clark Rickerbys who has worked on many academy conversions, said: "While acknowledging academy status is not a panacea in itself, the greater scale of a 'chain' represents the best way to allow teachers and heads to focus on the classroom rather than form filling."

Elsewhere, Mr Osborne's warning about cutting an extra £3.5 billion from public spending has been criticised by the body representing trade unions in Worcestershire.

Peter McNally, chairman of the Worcester Trades Council, said: "We already have in Worcestershire dramatic reductions to mental health services, planned closures of children's centres and services so bad for the elderly and vulnerable they are of a 'Reliant Robin' standard.

"The Chancellor may dress this all up as efficiency savings but the trade union movement know perfectly well what this means - more pay cuts and under staffing in hospitals, schools and public services."

Mid-Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston last night called it a "sober and sensible" Budget, pointing out the new saving scheme for under-40s where people get £1 in interest for every £4 saved.

He said: "I appreciated the overall emphasis as 'a budget for the next generation' and in many areas like health, schools, saving incentives, he put a key focus on the needs and aspirations of young people."

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