Northern Feathers supporting employment opportunities

Kerry Claxton, Dean Cartwright & Pam Lythgoe

I visited Northern Feathers in Ashton in Makerfield to see for myself the partnership between the company and Wigan Council’s Supported Employment Service.

Northern Feathers manufacture duvets and pillows for the Snuggledown brand. Acquired by the John Cotton Group in 2000 considerable capital investment has enabled further innovation and development of bedding products.

Wigan Supported Employment Service is a professional employment and training provider, securing paid employment opportunities for people who have a disability. The aim of the service is to create a truly diverse workforce which reflects the local community and offers equality of opportunity to all. They are an Ofsted rated “outstanding" grade 1 service, and their service users include people who have a number of barriers into employment such as having a learning disability, mental health issue, an acquired brain injury or a physical or sensory impairment.

Sharing a joke with Dean Cartwright

Working with Northern Feather the service has placed 5 people in paid employment and I was able to meet with and talk to employees about their experiences and the opportunities that secure employment provides.

Kerry Claxton, Employer Engagement Officer for Wigan Supported Employment Service said, “Northern Feathers have been in partnership with Supported Employment Service for the past six years, they have at the moment five paid employees, whom are all valued members of the workforce. They all have targets to achieve daily to ensure production is met."

“Pam Lythgoe the factory manager has been very supportive of our service and we need more companies within the borough to follow Northern Feathers and employ people with disabilities.”

Firms like Northern Feather make a valuable contribution to jobs and the local economy and I applaud their support for a diverse workforce. It was great to meet and talk to staff and learn that they have support and training opportunities and that their contribution is valued by the company.

Local Businesses interested in more information about supported employment can contact Kerry on 01942 828439. 

Boundary Commission releases revised proposals

The Boundary Commission for England  has today released its revised proposals which will reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600.

I am pleased that the Commission has listened to the very many people who have strongly objected to the initial proposals as they related to the Borough of Wigan.

Under the revised proposals the parliamentary constituencies of Leigh, Makerfield and Wigan will remain on the same boundaries as used for the 2010 General Election.

There is to be a further round of consultation. However, given the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister that the Liberal Democrats will vote against the implementation of the review it seems to me to be a waste of tax payers money to continue progressing this matter at a time of savage cuts to public services.

Major Sports Coaching open for business in Ashton

Major Sports Coaching (MSC) was established back in 2007 working as a small business in the Wigan area teaching 105 children per week with a team of 2 coaches. Over the past 5 years the company has grown to a work force of around 35 coaches teaching a wide variety of sports from tennis to handball, and dance from ballet to Zumba. They are currently teaching over 5000 children per week across 30+ schools in the Wigan, Warrington, St Helens and Salford area.

I joined Ashton Councillor, Nigel Ash in welcoming MSC to their new base in Ashton today.

MSC boast an apprenticeship scheme for 10 young up and coming coaches to be a part of a great opportunity for young coaches to gain good qualifications and learn the hands on side of the industry at the same time.

Their vision for the future with the help of their new specialist sports shop is to support elite athletes, young athletes striving to be the best they can be and people who are just looking to improve themselves in their chosen sport. They are looking to give the sports players and dancers in the local community the best possible equipment and training to help them achieve their personal goals from competing in local teams/competitions to competing on the bigger stage at national and international level.

The company welcomes everybody to pop into their shop based at 74 Gerard Street and get some advice on any of their equipment and services from their team of coaches.

It is always important to me to support local businesses, and MSC are doing such fantastic work in the community that I wanted to drop in to say a personal thank you and congratulations on their ongoing success. In an uncertain economic climate, we need to celebrate our successful local companies and I hope that MSC will continue to grow and provide great opportunities for our young people.

Cllr Nigel Ash said, “I am very pleased that this prestigious company has chosen Ashton town centre to locate its business, especially in these difficult times. Major Sports Coaching will be an asset to the town and their coming here will send a clear signal to other businesses that Ashton is a good place to be situated. I hope to see other businesses follow suit to help the regeneration of the town centre.”

Labour launches Police Crime Commissioner Election Campaign in Wigan

Pic with Tony Lloyd MP, Lord Smith &Kate Green MP

Tony Lloyd MP, Labour candidate for Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner  today launched his Wigan campaign. Tony was in Wigan to meet local people and tell them about the new role, his campaign and to hear their views about, the Police, crime and the wider justice system.

Tony said, “Crime effects us all. We all want to be secure in our homes and our families to live in safe communities, secure in the knowledge that our home and streets are safe at night.

“The Tory/Lib-Dem government is targeting our communities in Greater Manchester, cutting nearly 3,000 Police jobs, the largest cuts in the country. Senior police officers warn that the Government is cutting the policing budget too far, too fast, taking risks with public safety."

“The Police and Crime Commissioner is an important new role but many people don't know that we're going to be voting for someone to run our Police in November. I've worked hard throughout my years in Parliament to represent the people of Greater Manchester. I know that the best way for me to represent the views of local people is to listen to their experiences and what matters to them. That's why I'm here in Wigan today to talk to people about the new role and their priorities.”

When it comes to policing, David Cameron and this Tory-led Government don’t get it. The people who brought us the millionaire tax cut while raiding pensioners’ pockets are just as out of touch when it comes to the police.

Tony Lloyd won’t stand by and let Tories and Liberal Democrats become cheerleaders for police cuts across Wigan and Leigh. He will stand up to protect this community and fight crime.

Tony Lloyd’s Campaign pledges;

• To stand up for communities against the Tories’ 20 per cent cuts to policing and the loss of nearly 3,000 police and civilian posts in Greater Manchester (and 16,000 police officers nationally).
• build the community partnerships which make neighbourhood policing work and keep police on the beat not hand policing over to private companies.
• ensure that the anti-social neighbour and the local yob know the police will stop them from terrorising our communities. Victims will get a response within 24 hours.
• make sure victims of crime are at the centre of events from early investigation, kept in touch with progress and treated with the dignity they should expect.
• tackle domestic and sexual violence and exploitation of children as a top priority.
• build partnerships with community groups and the local councils and across the criminal justice system to tackle and prevent crime.

Million Meal Food Drive

The Million Meal Appeal where shoppers can donate food to help local people in crisis is being organised by charity FareShare and Sainsbury's stores across the country, including the Worthington Way store at Goose Green. As part of the appeal over the weekend of Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th October, I visited the store (Saturday) to support staff and encourage donations.

Donations will be collected as shoppers leave the store. FareShare will then deliver the donated food to over 700 charities and community projects across the UK to help families in need. Sainsbury’s will match the level of food donations collected over the weekend.

The Million Meal Appeal comes as the economic crisis deepens and the rising costs of living hits households in Wigan hard. Food prices rose by more than four per cent over the last year and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimate that around 5.8 million people in the UK struggle to afford everyday essentials like food.

The Million Meal Appeal will help local families struggling with rising living costs and cuts to tax credits. It is a sad fact that the number of food banks is rising despite the fact that we are the 7th richest country in the world. I am supporting the Million Meal Appeal and I hope that shoppers dig deep to help those families who are struggling at this time.

Last year the Million Meal Appeal collected food for 1.2 million meals for disadvantaged people with Sainsbury's customers buying an additional item of food for FareShare, which the charity then distributed to hostels, day centres, breakfast clubs and local projects.

Whizz-Kidz

I pledged my support at Labour Party Conference for an initiative launched by charity Whizz-Kidz, to gather young disabled peoples’ hopes for the legacy of the Paralympics.

The findings from the ‘Generation Inspired?’ consultation will help ensure that those charged with delivering the Paralympic legacy are fully informed about what young disabled people want – and expect – following the Games.

I met 22 year old wheelchair-user and Whizz-Kidz Ambassador, Chris Tickle who told me that attending the Conference was a great opportunity to discuss the legacy of the Games with MPs – and it was brilliant to get support for Generation Inspired.

The Paralympics showed the potential for changing attitudes to disability across the whole of society. Now we need everyone to play their part in improving accessibility and changing attitudes so that young disabled people like me can fulfil their potential.

The full link to Whizz-Kidz’s Generation Inspired survey can be found here.

More than just a Cinema

With Nicola Wood and Norman Brown

I visited the Empire Cinema in Wigan to see for myself the role cinema plays in bringing employment and enjoyment to local people.

Cinema is a major contributor to our economy, directly employing some 17,500 people across the country. Here in Wigan, General Manager Nicola Wood took me on a special behind-the-scenes tour. I was able to see first-hand how a modern cinema operates, and to hear how cinemas help contribute to a vibrant local economy.
 
Cinemas across the country are currently in the midst of wholesale conversion to digital projection technology after decades of relying on celluloid. Almost three-quarters of UK screens already show films in this new format. When the digitisation process is complete in the UK, the need annually to use around 109,000 miles of film – enough to circle the Earth four-and-a-half times – will disappear.

I really enjoyed the visit and was pleased to see how Empire is investing in the latest technologies like digital and 3D cinema and the innovative role that it plays in the local community through its many promotions aimed at bringing the enjoyment of cinema to all sections of the community.

Nicola Wood said, “Here at Empire Wigan we are committed to providing affordable cinema to all. We have a number of money saving initiatives in place that really do cater for everyone.  Local families looking for a family-friendly cinema trip can take advantage of Empire Juniors, showing some of the greatest classic family films and recent releases every Saturday and Sunday morning."

"All our schemes support Empire Wigan’s position of being the best value cinema in the area and demonstrate our commitment to offering our customers access to the latest new releases at economical prices.”

Sink or Swim

You can view my online Progress article on the Social Market Foundation Report 'Sink or Swim' here.

Macmillan Coffee Morning

Pic with Chris Lawrenson and Cllr Nigel Ash

A big thank you to the Ashton in Makerfield branch of Barclays Bank for hosting a Macmillan Coffee morning.

Coffee drinkers and cake lovers from all over Ashton have been digging deep and tucking in to raise money for this very special cause in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event today is Macmillan’s biggest fund raiser and is looking to build on the success of 2011, when a record £10 million was raised after 51,000 people signed up to take part.

Thanks to Barclay's Ashton Branch Manager Jane Trafford and Chris Lawrenson for making the event possible and to Barclay's customers for digging deep!

On the side of the motorist in the car park

I am supporting a parliamentary Bill seeking to improve signage and ticketing technology in car parks. It calls for clear and unambiguous signage, so motorists know if they are entering a pay and display car park, know what they will have to pay and are offered simple ways to pay.

The Bill aims to make it as easy as possible for motorists to pay the right amount for the hours they park, without falling foul of car park rules and finding a parking charge notice of up to £100 delivered in their post some days later.

I know that motorists are feeling the pinch from high petrol prices. So when they park they need to know they won’t be hit by ‘hidden’ parking charges.

If we want more shoppers in our high streets and town centres; we need accessible and affordable parking. Clear signage and easy ways to pay will help the motorist comply with car park rules and pay the right amount for their parking space.

My parliamentary colleague Nick Smith MP introduced the Bill. He said, "Private car park operators made 1.57 million requests to the DVLA last year for driver details. They use these details to issue parking charge notices to motorists for alleged breach of car park rules. Motorists can be hit with an extra charge of up to £100. My Bill aims to make it clear to motorists when and what they have to pay, so they can’t be treated as a soft touch.”

Planning changes will trigger disputes between neighbours

Last week the Government announced that it will be launching a consultation on doubling permitted development rights in back gardens. This would allow home-owners to build single storey extensions of up to 8 metres on the back of detached houses without planning permission (6 metres for terraced and semi-detached properties). 

This could leave neighbours unhappy with developments in the next door garden with no grounds for recourse and could increase the number of legal but inappropriate developments.

Already, among the most common causes of disputes between home owners are planning applications for extensions, conservatories and garages.

My constituency postbag already paints a picture of neighbour disputes arising from, for example, noise pollution but I fear that my postbag and those of local councillors will grow bigger as some people seek to take advantage of the change to secure extensions previously refused planning consent by the local authority.

While the current planning process may seem cumbersome for small developments like conservatories and garages, it does provide a mechanism for concerns about the impact of extensions to be properly considered.

Home owners who may previously have been refused planning permission for legitimate reasons may now decide to exploit the proposed planning permission ‘holiday’ to go ahead with these schemes.

This latest half baked idea will inevitably lead to disputes and ill feeling between neighbours.

The Government are set to consult on the proposals.

Wigan Core Strategy - My Letter to Wigan Council

Ms. Gillian Bishop,
Corporate Director,
Places Directorate,
Wigan Council
Places Directorate,
PO Box 100, Wigan.
WN1 3DS

5th September 2012.

Dear  Gillian,

The Core Strategy – Housing Needs Shortfall

I have considered the options within my constituency put forward by the Council to meet the shortfall of land for new housing identified by the Planning Inspector and wish to make the following comments.

1) Landgate, Ashton :

An area of the land at Landgate Bryn is currently used as a playground site which is cherished by the local community. This playground area should therefore be excluded from any proposal for housing or indeed any other development.

2) Green Belt land around Wigan.

Included in this option is land South of Winstanley and South-East of Hawkley Hall and I have objection to the use of both areas of land because of their Green Belt status.

I support the Council’s overall presumption that exceptional circumstances for housing development in the Green belt do not exist at the current time. Exceptional circumstances cannot be demonstrated to justify housing development on Green Belt land when there are alternative sites without that protection. Development on Green Belt land must be seen as a last resort.

The Borough’s Green Belts were last defined in the Local Development Framework of 2006. I understand there is a general expectation that such policies will apply for a minimum of 25 years unless there is exceptional need to make amendment and that is not the case in respect of the Green Belt land South of Winstanley and South-East of Hawkley Hall.

Also, although there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development within The National Planning Policy Framework, the five purposes of the Green Belt remained unchanged and areas of land designated as part of the Green Belt are not overridden by this presumption.

The new Planning Minister Nick Bowles also confirmed in an interview on Newsnight on the 6th September 2012 that Green Belt protection was not changing as a result of any proposals that have been announced.

a) Land South of Winstanley:

I have already made representation on the reasons why the Green Belt Status at Junction 25 should not be removed to allow its use for employment purposes and much of that argument applies in relation to any housing development proposal.

The Green Belt Status was introduced on this site with a set of objectives. Those objectives are no less necessary today as they ever were.  The removal of the Green Belt at this site will cause harm.

i) Give rise to Urban Sprawl. Currently the Green Belt designation stops the sprawl of the existing settlements of Winstanley and Goose Green and the settlement of Ashton. To agree its removal would be to accept unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas.
ii) Encroachment of the Countryside. This site is the community’s green space. It is used and valued by the surrounding townships. It contributes to the health and wellbeing of the local community and its loss would be felt deeply and is unacceptable.
iii) Merging of neighbouring town. The gap between Wigan and Ashton is already narrow and this development would result in a reduction that would make it ineffective.
iv) Urban Regeneration. Urban renewal policies are given little chance to be effective if development is allowed on alternative green field sites in the Urban fringe.  It can be easier to start afresh on a green field site than to take the preferred sustainable development route and improve existing, albeit sometimes difficult sites, already allocated for development.

b) Land South East of Hawkley Hall:

As with land South of Winstanley the Green Belt status on land South East of Hawkley Hall was applied to prevent a set of circumstances that would be detrimental of the area should that status be removed.

i) Give rise to Urban Sprawl. Currently the green belt designation stops the sprawl of the existing settlements of Hawkley and Bryn/Ashton.  To agree its removal would be to accept unrestricted sprawl of these large built up areas
ii) Encroachment of the Countryside. As with the land South of Winstanley, this site too is the community’s green space. It is used and valued by the surrounding townships. It contributes to the health and wellbeing of the local community and its loss would be felt deeply and is unacceptable. The chipping away of our Countryside, which we believed was protected by its Green Belt status, is unacceptable.
iii) Merging of neighbouring towns. The divide between Hawkley and Bryn/Ashton is maintained by this green space. Development would result in a reduction that would make it far less effective particularly as the new development would encroach further towards Landgate leaving only an approximate 0.3k gap between the boundary of the proposed development and the edge of the Landgate community. This proposal should also be viewed in the context of the Council’s employment and housing development proposals of this area of Landgate that have already gone through consultation and are going through the current consultation on housing land shortfall.
iv) Urban Regeneration.The same urban regeneration points relate to this site as they do to the South of Winstanley site outlined above.

Whilst other concerns have been raised with me by constituents about possible housing development on these two sites, for example inadequate local services and the effect on the traffic infrastructure, the impact of the removal of Green Belt protection is in itself, I believe, sufficient reason to abandon these proposals.

It is important that the Council adopts a Core Strategy as a matter of urgency. Without an updated plan, when determining planning applications in the future, more weight will be put on the National Planning Policy Framework and its presumption in favour of development, because of a weakened existing development plan that has not been revised. This is not in the best interests of the community and I do hope this matter can be resolved as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Fovargue
Labour Member for Makerfield.

IPSA publishes MPs’ business costs and expenses for 2011/12

The details below provide a summary of the costs incurred by me in carrying out my Parliamentary duties in 2011/12. MPs can only claim for costs which are within the rules set out in the MPs' Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses.

The figures released this week by IPSA provides constituents with a breakdown of the costs of running a busy constituency office and the expenses incurred in travelling and the costs of accommodation in London.

I want to provide my constituents with an open and accessible constituency office and with over 2,000 individual cases a year it is essential that they have access to a staffed office and over 82% of the expenditure incurred relates to the direct costs of office accommodation and staff salaries.

In addition to these costs, IPSA also cover the costs associated with travel to and from London when parliament is sitting and accommodation during the week and this accounts for the remaining 18%.

As a new MP elected in 2010, I continue to monitor closely the costs associated with fulfilling my duties and welcome the annual publication, where you can view details of my business costs and expenses, by IPSA.

Government should withdraw cuts to victim compensation scheme

I have added my name to a parliamentary motion calling on the Government to withdraw planned cuts to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS).

The scheme is the only means of recompense for almost 40,000 seriously or fatally injured victims of crime every year and research by the shop workers trade union, Usdaw have revealed the extent of the proposed cuts to victims of crime.

The cuts would mean:

• 48% of victims currently eligible for compensation would receive nothing in future, even for quite serious and permanent injuries.
• 35% would see their compensation reduced by between £1,500 and £2,000.
• Only 17% of victims will be eligible for the same tariff level of compensation –  those with the most severe injuries or who have suffered abuse
• Payments for loss of earnings will be drastically cut for those with long-term and permanent disabling injuries and for dependants of fatally injured victims.

I do not believe that the innocent victims of violent crime should bear the brunt of this Government’s austerity, or that the £50m projected savings are necessary as the current Scheme is both financially stable and sustainable.

Take the case of a 34 year old female shop worker held at gun point and injured during a robbery and later diagnosed with post traumatic stress. The CICS made a four figure award to that victim; under the new proposals she would receive nothing.

The full text of the parliamentary motion can be viewed here.

Most Usdaw members are shopworkers and unfortunately, like many public facing workers, they are particularly vulnerable to the risk of criminal assault. An analysis of around 100 cases recently supported by Usdaw showed that 67% would no longer receive any compensation under the revised scheme. 22% would see their compensation halved and 11% of the most seriously injured would have their compensation significantly reduced because of the new loss of earnings calculations. In 27 cases involving members injured or traumatised in an armed robbery, 22 would no longer be eligible for any compensation.

Share the Warmth

It’s tough times at the moment for everyone. Homes are facing increasing costs of living in food, fuel and energy. Charities across the Wigan Borough find it harder to find the resources to help people who are in need.

British Gas have announced something that may be able to help both those who are struggling to meet the cost of living and for charities trying to help  them.

The British Gas “Share the Warmth” offer. If a charity finds someone that meets their criteria for free insulation, British Gas will give them £50 for their troubles. They’ll also insulate the house of the vulnerable customer, and then give them £50 as well. No one needs to be a British Gas customer to take advantage.

If you’re not a charity and you know someone that could benefit from free insulation then you can get £50 as well too. If you’re a charity you can register here

If you’re an individual that knows someone that can benefit all you need do is get your friend or relative to call 0800 975 1195. 

This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and help those that need help. This offer ends in November so I hope you’ll be able to find someone who can access this programme. To find out more click here.

Luncheon Club success for Community Payback Team

Today, I visited a popular luncheon club run by Greater Manchester Probation Trust’s Community Payback team.
The club, which caters for the over-50s and runs six days a week from 12pm, has up to 30 regular attendees and serves healthy and hearty food, as well as providing a social environment. Offenders cook two-course meals, serve the food and tidy-up at the venue, which is at Worsley Mesnes Community Centre.

Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law, rigorously supervised and enforced by probation. The luncheon club was first started in 1983 and has become a permanent fixture in the lives of scores of people. I met with Jane Frappola, Community Payback Officer and was introduced to both offenders and the beneficiaries who attended.

Offenders have the opportunity to learn cookery, first aid and hygiene qualifications. Representatives from the National Careers Service, Campaign for Learning and Training to All also attended.

It was fantastic to see the luncheon club in operation and at the forefront of encouraging offenders by providing training and the opportunity to learn new skills to help them back into the working environment, leaving crime behind. The Community Payback Team working with offenders are doing a great job and judging by the number of empty plates on show today, they know a thing or to about cooking!

'Raw Deal' for college students

16-18 year olds from a disadvantaged background who study at a Further Education or Sixth Form College do not receive free meals at lunchtime whereas their counterparts in school sixth forms, Academies, Free Schools and University Technical Colleges do receive free meals.

I visited Winstanley College on Fri, 6th July to meet with staff and students who are calling on the Government to extend free meals to students at College as part of the No Free Lunch? campaign.

I believe that there are three reasons why dealing with the anomaly is even more urgent now than it was in the past;

1. The removal of Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) - an initiative that transformed the lives of individual students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It had a direct impact on attendance, retention, achievement and progression. The removal of EMA has exposed not being able to access free meals even more than before.
2. With the raising of the participation age, all students will now progress on beyond age 16
3. The advent of academies, free schools and university technical colleges - If a new post-16 free school or post-16 academy is set up, it can offer free school meals, but a 16-to-19 sixth-form college or further education college cannot

This is clearly unfair and needs to change. Eligibility for free meals should be based on need, not on where you choose to study.

This anomaly needs to be addressed. The Government acknowledges this so now is the time for it to act and put an end to this raw deal for students at Winstanley College.

Jo Bailey, Principal of Winstanley College said, “All young people should be able to make a free and fair choice about where they study post-16.  The provision of a hot, nutritious lunch-time meal should be available to all students from a disadvantaged background, not just those staying on at school. We are campaigning to end this injustice to such students at Winstanley, and at other colleges.”

79% of Colleges agree that free meals in colleges for 16-18 year olds would encourage participation.
You can pledge your support for this campaign by signing the petition and by using the hashtag #nofreelunch when you tweet about this issue.

A special celebration for Unify Credit Union

Congrats to all the team at Unify CU

Unify Credit Union today celebrated its 10th anniversary of providing low cost, ethical financial services to the Wigan Borough.

Unify was established in 2002 by the formation of three small community credit unions. In 2009 the last remaining community credit union, Worsley Mesnes Credit Union, joined forces with Unify – making it the largest credit union in the Borough.
Credit Unions are community savings and loans co-operatives, owned and run by its members. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works within the Wigan Borough.

Members save with Unify and those savings are then used to give low cost loans to members. Any profits at the end of the financial year are given back to the members in the form of an annual dividend.

Today, Unify has grown to more than 6000 members and over £2.6million in assets. Unify has two local branch locations in Higher Ince and Leigh and 14 local collection points across the Borough.

Unify’s growth is echoed in figures released recently by the Financial Services Authority which show that the British credit union sector, offering its ethical and inclusive brand of financial services, goes from strength to strength with a 12% increase in deposits, 14% increase in lending and 15% increase in assets in 2011.

As a member of Unify I was welcomed to the Higher Ince HQ today by General Manager, Angela Fishwick as the celebrations were well underway.

For Angela today marks a special milestone in the history of the credit union movement in the Borough.
She said, “So many local people have given their time freely to developing the credit union in Wigan, and to see us reach this milestone and be so strong is great news for everyone involved.

“Unify is continuing to grow and develop services with the aim of becoming the main financial service provider for members; providing instant access savings, loans and bill payments.”

Access to affordable credit is a major issue for many people, especially where they need small sums to make an emergency purchase or to tide them over for a short period.

The collapse of the UK banking system and the proliferation of legal loan sharks has led many to conclude that credit unions are a viable alternative. Unify is run by its members for its members demonstrating the power of co-operation and concern for the community in which it operates.

I congratulate Angela and all who have worked to make Unify the success story that it is today and I will continue to promote the credit union movement as a safe and ethical alternative.

Summer Reading Challenge

I am supporting a campaign run by The Reading Agency to encourage all primary school children to join their local library and take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge - the UK’s biggest reading promotion for primary school children.
The Challenge which begins on 14 July is for every child aged 4-11 years to read six books of their choice from their local library during the summer holidays. Children earn stickers along the way and will be given a certificate or “Olympic style” medal when they complete the Challenge. This is the 14th year of the Challenge and this year the theme is “Story Lab” which is set in a city hosting the Olympic Games.

Over 20 popular children’s authors are supporting the campaign including children’s laureate Julia Donaldson and fellow award-winning writers  Malorie Blackman, Charlie Higson,  Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson.

I hope parents and carers in Makerfield will take their children to their local library this summer and if they aren’t already members sign up and do the Summer Reading Challenge.  It’s free and makes reading fun, a vital ingredient in building literacy. Last year 2500 children in the Borough took part in the Challenge. I hope we will beat that figure this year and show local libraries how much we value them.

Let's get behind our Armed Forces community

I attended an event at the House of Commons to promote the creation of Community Covenants across the country, organised by The Royal British Legion, the event highlighted the importance of local communities getting behind the Armed Forces community in their own area and honouring the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant in practice on the ground.

Launched last year following a successful campaign by the Legion, the Community Covenant scheme is helping to transform the relationship between local communities and serving and reservist Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families, for the benefit of both communities.

The Legion is encouraging local authorities to sign a Community Covenant as their own unique commitment to develop mutual understanding, meet the needs of the Armed Forces community and identify opportunities for closer working in their area. More than 50 Community Covenants have been signed so far, and another 50 are in the pipeline.

Signing a Community Covenant is an excellent way for local authorities to demonstrate that they are doing their bit to support the Armed Forces Covenant locally. It also offers access to a £30M Government funding stream, the “Community Covenant Grant Scheme”, for local projects that strengthen ties or mutual understanding between the Armed Forces Community and the wider community.

The Legion campaigned successfully for the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant to be written into law. The principles recognise the unique nature of Service and state that no disadvantage should arise from it, such as in accessing public services, and that special treatment should be allowed where justified.

Community Covenants are a fantastic way for local authorities and the wider community to show their support for our Armed Forces and their families. These Covenants are about securing real improvements in the welfare of Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families in constituencies across the UK. I am pleased that so many local authorities are signing up. Now all of us need to ensure the commitments made really make a difference where it matters – on the ground.

Armed Forces Day 2012

Working Poor will suffer from localised Council Tax benefit scheme

This week I secured a debate in Parliament on Government plans to change the council tax benefit regime in England.

A damning assessment by the Institute for Fiscal Studies of the proposed council tax benefit changes, which starts next April, says that although the reform's £480m-a-year savings equate to an average £19 per household, the working poor would be hit hardest.

The government proposes to allow councils to design a local benefit system but in return says it will cut funding for it by 10%. With 5.9 million recipients, it is more widely claimed than any other means-tested benefit or tax credit.

The cut in funding will be larger, says Yvonne Fovargue MP, in areas where council tax benefit spending is highest – the more deprived areas of Britain. The requirement to protect pensioners in England means that the cut in funding of a tenth translates into a 20% cut in support for working-age claimants in Wigan.
Shocking statistics underline the impact that the changes will have in the Wigan Borough;

• Funding will be reduced by £2.6million (10% cut)
• As existing and future pensioners are protected from the changes the effect of this is to shift the 10% (£2.6m) reduction in funding solely to working age households – 18,000 in Wigan creating a reduction of approx 20% for this group.

I look at the cumulative effect of the Welfare Benefit changes disproportionately impacting upon people in low paid work and frankly I despair at the options the Government are forcing our local council to consider.
If anybody believed that David Cameron was a compassionate Conservative, then this issue confirms that the ‘nasty party’ is back – indeed it never went away.

I understand that Wigan Council is now working towards developing a scheme for implementation to meet the legal requirements of the Local Government Finance Bill as it makes its parliamentary passage. At the same time other changes in the welfare system, including the introduction of Universal Credit and the ‘Bedroom tax’ will also hit the working poor.

Singly, any one of these changes will affect people on a low wage extremely hard, cumulatively they could well deliver a fatal blow.  It is well reported that only a small decrease in income will push a struggling family from the position of just about managing to that of not coping and sinking into unmanageable debt and the advice agencies who have hitherto been there to help and rescue these individuals are also struggling with the legal aid cuts removing support on Welfare Benefits and most debt cases.

These hard working families are already squeezed, councils are squeezed and it is inevitable that, yet again, the poor and vulnerable will suffer.

Armed Forces Day 2012

The men and women who serve in Britain’s armed forces continue to make enormous sacrifices to protect our country and Armed Forces Day this Saturday provides us all with the opportunity to demonstrate our support for everyone in the serving community.

Those involved with military operations in Afghanistan deserve our utmost respect – their sustained bravery in an extremely challenging environment is a source of enormous pride for us all.

But the defence community stretches beyond those serving in Afghanistan. Armed Forces Day is also an opportunity to support veterans, cadets and service families.

Those in the armed forces play a unique role in our public life and they rightly deserve unique recognition through the military covenant which ensures that those who make sacrifices and serve our country shall face no disadvantage as a result of their service.

Following a campaign led by the Royal British Legion and supported by Labour, the principles of the Military Covenant were enshrined in to the Armed Forces Act 2011. But whilst the military covenant was an important step, there is still much work to be done. The Government needs to do more to ensure that the principles of the covenant are backed up with hard policies that really help members of the Armed Forces.

Hopefully this year’s Armed Forces Day can act as a catalyst to encourage the Government to provide better support for those who have already served our country, and those who continue to serve.
I’m proud that so many of my constituents choose to serve their community and their country so bravely, which is why I’ll be attending on Saturday in Wigan Town centre where everybody in the Borough can pay tribute to all those in the Armed Forces who continue to serve us so well.

Visit the Armed Forces Day website to find out more about this special day.

Is Wigan losing out on Lottery funding

I have today called on the Government to commission a fuller and more comprehensive analysis of the distribution of lottery grants following a report by the Industrial Communities Alliance (ICA).

The National Lottery is played by millions of people across the country and the report finds that the ‘good causes’ supported by lottery grants are not spread equitably across all parts of the country.

Entitled ‘The Postcode Lottery’ the report’s key findings include;

• Inequalities in the distribution of Lottery funding mean that industrial areas like Wigan receive only about 60% of the national average per head
• The cumulative loss of funding to these communities totals £3billion or £200million a year since the Lottery began

The ICA report includes Wigan as one of the 19 comparator local authorities.

At a time of spending cuts to local authorities, charities and the wider voluntary sector it is important that all communities are able to access their fare share of lottery funding. This report demonstrates that this is not the case.

The Government and the Lottery Boards must commission a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of lottery grants.

Learning Disability Week

I attended a disability hate crime event in the Houses of Parliament this week to launch the start of Learning Disability Week.

The event, organised by learning disability charity Mencap, aimed to raise awareness of the issue of disability hate crime and highlight the positive progress that has been made since the launch of Mencap’s Stand by me campaign last year.
Greater Manchester Police is one of the 34 forces which has signed up to Mencap’s Stand by me police promise and formally committed to supporting people with a learning disability and increasing hate crime convictions.

As many as 9 out of 10 people with a learning disability have been a victim of hate crime and bullying.
This year during Learning Disability Week (18th – 24th June 2012), police and crime commissioner candidates across England and Wales will face questions from disabled people and their families, who will demand that new police and crime plans include a commitment to tackling disability hate crime, ahead of public elections in November.

Attendees at the event heard from Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice, Nick Herbert; Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Simon Byrne; Mencap chief executive Mark Goldring; and disability hate crime victim Kate Green.

Mencap receives reports from around the country of people who are verbally abused and physically attacked. They might be seen as easy targets or valued less because of their disability. With the help of our local communities and police, Mencap wants to change this. Disability hate crime is a serious offence, and if the courts recognise that a person was targeted because of their disability they can impose a heavier sentence.

To find out more about Mencap’s Stand by me campaign, visit the website.   

Not a single affordable home built in Wigan in 2011

The Government’s policies came under fire today as official figures revealed that affordable house building had collapsed in Wigan. The figures from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency show that affordable housing starts fell from 97 to zero in 2011/2012 compared with the previous year.

These figures demonstrate the disastrous impact of Government housing and economic policies and the need for urgent action to build much needed homes and get the economy going again.

This Government is failing families in Wigan who are in desperate need of a home. We have a growing housing crisis and the Government’s policies are making it worse. Across the North West there has been a 57% fall in affordable home starts and in Wigan not a single affordable new home start in 2011.

Labour has called on the Government to take action by repeating the bankers’ bonus tax to fund 25,000 new affordable homes while proposing a one year cut in VAT on home improvements, repairs and maintenance to help homeowners, small businesses and create much needed jobs and apprenticeships.

Jubilee Time Capsule

I have recorded my personal Jubilee Time Capsule memory and am encouraging local people to take part.

I chose my first memory of a photograph with my favourite Teddy called ‘Teddy 1’ taken in 1960.

The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Jubilee Time Capsule project is collating memories from the last 60 years across the Commonwealth. Memories that are uploaded do not have to be about Her Majesty the Queen or Royal Family.

I can remember the photographer encouraging me to smile only for me to say I didn’t want my photo taking. At this point my Mum steps forward telling me that Teddy 1 wanted his picture taken and would I hold him!

It holds happy memories of my childhood years.

The Jubilee Time Capsule is a great opportunity for local people to get involved in not only the Diamond Jubilee but also take part in the world’s largest online history project by uploading a memory and record a piece of their own personal history - a snapshot in time.

You can upload your memory here.

Regulation of payday lending required to end 'wild west' scenario

This week, I have called for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to introduce the ‘power to suspend’ unscrupulous companies operating in the lucrative payday lending industry.

I have made a submission to the OFT’s Review of the Payday Lending sector including case studies from Wigan based Citizens Advice Bureau and the borough’s credits unions Unify and Welcome.

I have witnessed first hand the the rapid growth of the payday lending industry and over the same period the similar increase in the number of people seeking debt advice as a result of having not just one, but numerous payday loans, easily taken out and with limited affordability checks by the lending company.

I accept that there is a role for payday lenders to play in the finance industry, but I am calling for a much tougher approach to applying existing regulation as well as introducing measures to take account of the methods employed by the industry, such as instant online decisions and loans by text message.

My call for action includes:

• The OFT to be given the power to suspend companies from trading, which they are confident, have been in breach of current guidance.
• Raising the bar for entry into the industry, as it is currently too easy for these companies to obtain licenses to trade.
• The creation of a database of real time credit information to combat ‘spiralling debt’ faced by many consumers when multiple loans are provided to customers, by different companies and in a short space
of time.

The next two years will be an extremely difficult period as the transfer of powers from the OFT to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) takes place. This has the potential to create a ‘wild west’ style scenario of payday loans companies benefitting from the inevitable confusion and uncertainty in the cross-over period.

I do believe that the way the industry is currently operating penalises vulnerable consumers. Voluntary regulation has failed miserably and now is the time for the OFT to be given the power to crack down on the irresponsible actions of an industry making huge profits on the back of vulnerable and low income borrowers.

Victim Support right to call for rethink of Government proposals for victims and witnesses

I am backing a campaign to ensure victims and witnesses of crime are not made to suffer twice.

At least £21m of help for victims could be wasted if controversial government plans to hand control of budgets to police and crime commissioners go ahead, according to the charity Victim Support.

Even by the Government’s own estimate the costs of this form-filling would mean the loss of:

• intensive support for 25,000 victims of domestic violence
• support for 20,000 victims of antisocial behaviour
• installation of 15,000 home alarm kits for victims of burglary and
• 100,000 personal alarms given to victims of personal or street crime.

Victim Support is therefore calling on the Government to rethink plans which it believes are unworkable, damaging and dangerous and could abandon people when they are at their most vulnerable.
If implemented, the Government’s plans will also:

• Break up the existing network of nearly 7,000 highly trained Victim Support volunteers, which currently saves the taxpayer over £20m a year. Without this network, victims of large scale criminal incidents, the police and local authorities will all be less able to rely on consistent local support.
• Create patchy services for victims and witnesses. This –  and the Government’s desire to focus support on far fewer types of crime – means that some victims may miss out on any support.
• Reduce the money available to spend on victims and witnesses by £3m per year, by reducing Victim Support’s ability to fundraise.
• Divert millions of pounds to private sector firms – money which would be better spent on helping victims.
• Put the security of victims’ personal information at risk – with significant implications for the police who currently routinely share victims’ data with Victim Support.

Victim Support volunteers do an amazing job in Wigan. We need to ensure that those who are affected by crime get the support they deserve. That’s why I’m backing Victim Support’s calls on Government to rethink its plans.

Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support, said:, "It makes no sense to reinvent the wheel by asking police and crime commissioners to purchase services for victims. Victim Support has been successfully giving help to victims and witnesses for nearly 40 years. It is simply unacceptable that they could lose out on support to the value of £21m because of additional red tape and paper pushing."

“Getting it right for victims and witnesses should be about putting their needs at the heart of changes, not making proposals which have the potential to abandon them when they are at their most vulnerable.”

Cameron's betrayal of hard working families

Government forces through suspension of Sunday trading laws

The Tory-led coalition has forced through emergency legislation that will suspend the Sunday trading
laws in England and Wales for eight weeks this summer starting from 22 July.

Coalition MPs voted through The Sunday Trading (London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Bill last night, after just nine hours consideration and debate in both the House of Commons and House of
Lords.

In a break with the convention that MPs have a free vote on the issue of Sunday trading, Coalition
MPs were subject to a three-line whip, meaning all Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs were
compelled to back the Bill. The shopworkers’ union Usdaw said the government’s decision to deny its
MPs a free vote reflected the shambolic way the issue had been handled and the failure of the
government to make a convincing case for the suspension.

I voted aginst the Bill and believe that the Government have failed to listen to shop workers and interested bodies like the voice of small retailers - The Association of Convenience Stores. Instead they chose to back a handful of large commercial interests who would prefer a permanent deregulation of Sunday trading.