Small firms urged to recruit apprentices after Shannon’s success

The value apprentices can bring to small businesses was highlighted to me by a visit to a growing Wigan firm.

I visited Lilac Lettings based in Ashton, to find out first-hand how they have successfully recruited an apprentice to their small team.

Wigan Council supported Lilac Lettings in recruiting apprentice Shannon Ormesher,18.

As part of its Deal for Business, Wigan Council has invested £1.5m into its business apprenticeship scheme which aims to get 350 young people into work.

Ms Fovargue, who is shadow minister for young people, met Shannon who is proving to be an invaluable employee to the small firm.

Lilac Lettings was founded by Debra Higgins and her sister-in-law, also called Debra Higgins, just three years ago. The company has grown to employ six staff and manage more than 250 properties across Wigan and the wider area.

Shannon, 18, took on the business administration apprenticeship with Lilac Lettings after leaving school and finding that college wasn’t for her.

Now Shannon is loving being an apprentice and is an asset to her firm. Debra said: “We are a small family business and we were getting busier and busier. We wanted to grow the business and take to the next step. We worked closely with Wigan Council to take on an apprentice and it was an ideal situation for us. It’s going really well with Shannon. She’s learnt so much and she’s far more confident than she was. Shannon can grow with us. We are putting a lot of time and effort into her and we are getting a lot back.”

Shannon applied to be an apprentice through the national apprenticeship website.

Shannon said: “It’s good, I really enjoy it. I like the fact I’m not just in the office all the time. I get to go out on viewings and inspections.”

Shannon, who is hoping to stay with Lilac Lettings and further her career, possibly through taking the next level of apprenticeship, said she would advise other young people to take on an apprenticeship.

“It’s a lot better option than going to college. You get good experience and you are getting paid as well,” she said.

Lilac Lettings is a really good example to show that you don’t have to be a big company to take on apprentices. You can be any size of company and benefit from an apprentice. There is also lots of support available to companies and Wigan Council deserves a great deal of praise for how it supports both companies and apprentices.

Councillor David Molyneux, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It is great to hear about so many apprentice success stories happening in Wigan Borough. Credit must go to the local companies who are willing to invest time and energy in our young people and many are reaping the benefits as a result.”

FE News Interview

FE News interview followed my speech at The Voice of Apprenticeships conference in London about Apprenticeships, Advice and Guidance for young people and Labours plans for Government departments working more closely together.

Student Question Time

Yvonne Fovargue MP visited St John Rigby College on Friday, 6th March at the invitation of Principal, Peter McGhee.

During the visit which included a tour of the Law and Sociology Departments, the Makerfield MP held a Q&A with students.

Issues raised included Education Inequality, Tuition Fees, Votes at 16 and the National Minimum Wage.

It was good to be able to respond to the issues raised. I was very impressed by the thoughtful and interesting questions put forward by students. It was encouraging to see how engaged and knowledgeable they are about current affairs and the political process.

Principal Peter McGhee said, “It was very much appreciated that Yvonne created the opportunity to visit St John Rigby College at such a busy time.  We are encouraging all eligible students to register to vote and we will be holding our own elections in College on the 7th May.  We have an exceptional group of young people at St John Rigby College and it was wonderful to provide them with an opportunity for a question and answer session with our local MP.”

“Yvonne’s natural engagement and openness with our students illustrated her commitment to young people and to education, something that I was already aware of due to her support and lobbying on behalf of the College regarding current educational policy and the inequity of the ‘learning tax’ applied to sixth form colleges.”

A Better Plan for Wigan

This week Labour published our ‘Better Plan for Britain’s Prosperity’, setting out Labour’s approach to building prosperity in 21st Century Britain. Labour’s plan takes different approach to creating prosperity, not relying on a few but boosting productivity across Britain's firms and workforce, including in Wigan.

At the heart of Labour’s plan is an understanding that Britain only succeeds when working people succeed. This contrasts with the failed approach taken by the Tories who wrongly believe that the best way to pursue growth is to cut taxes at the top and hope that wealth trickles down.

Specifically, Labour’s better plan recognises that Britain’s world class firms, in sectors which enjoy established comparative advantage, need to be able to take long-term decisions and access key markets.

It also commits Labour to prioritise doing everything we can to ensure more smaller businesses reach their potential to power future growth. That’s why the next Labour Government is committed to cutting and then freezing business rates for small business properties and putting small businesses first in line for tax cuts.

Labour will also improve training and apprenticeships, including guaranteeing every school leaver that gets the right grades a high quality apprenticeship.

Our plan also sets out our plans to develop a new industrial strategy that focuses not just on high-tech firms, but also on supporting our big employing sectors such as retail and social care to win a race to the top and not get dragged into a race to the bottom.

And finally, it will ensure the public sector plays an active part in driving up productivity across the whole economy, supporting firms through cutting-edge innovation and research, strategic investment and procurement.

Taken together, this approach will deliver the sustainable growth and rising living standards that our country needs and ensure our economy works for working people in Wigan.

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a choice of two plans at this election: a failing plan under which we would carrying on as we are with a government claiming the economy is a success when it only works for a handful of people at the top; or a new plan, a better plan, that says this economy must succeed for working families if Britain as a whole is going to succeed.

My call for FCA to act against Rent to Own charges

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance, of which I am chair has published the final report of its Inquiry into the Rent to Own (RTO) sector.

Rent to Own firms specialise in supplying furniture, TVs and basic household goods such as washing machines to low-income households. The three main RTO firms are BrightHouse, PerfectHome and Buy as you View. We estimate the three firms have combined customer base of more than 350,000 households.

The report sets out seven main concerns and makes 20 recommendations for the regulator, The FCA, firms and Government. The key recommendations are:

• The FCA should use its product intervention powers to ban expensive warranties and insurances from being a compulsory part of RTO agreements.
• The FCA should carry out a review into possible mis-selling of insurances looking at whether RTO customers have been sold services they already had or did not need.
• The FCA should investigate over-charging and make sure prices for additional warranties and insurances are transparent.
• There should be new ‘health warnings’ to ensure customers are aware of the total cost of RTO agreements and the risks of repossession.
• The FCA should introduce new sector-specific protections to protect customers in financial difficulty against loss of essential items when they have made substantial payments towards ownership.

Rent to Own Stores like BrightHouse charge inflated prices to some of the poorest people in the country. Customers are often obliged to take out additional warranties and insurance, as a result paying several times the true value of the goods.

Many customers simply can’t keep up and the goods are taken back to be sold again. RTO firms have been cashing in on people’s financial struggles for more than a decade. The FCA needs to act now to stop RTO customers from being ripped off.

The APPG is writing to the chief executive of the FCA, Martin Wheatley, to ask him to adopt our blueprint for reform. The regulator should act urgently to protect customers.

The Inquiry found:

• APRs of 94.7% and charges for bolt-on cover that double the cost of essential household goods.
• One in five BrightHouse customers is falling more than a month behind with payments.
• 22% of RTO customers in arrears have goods taken back or repossessed –one in ten of all agreements.
• Unfair practices in the sector have set off “alarms bells” with the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Register to Vote Now

In the last year almost one million people have fallen off the Electoral Register across the UK, including over 10,000 in the Wigan Borough.

This is a direct consequence of the Government’s decision to ignore warnings that rushing through new individual registration reforms would damage democracy.

This is nothing less than a scandal. The Government is sitting by and watching tens of thousands of people and in particular young people lose their democratic rights.

But young people must be heard, loud and clear, in the general election. That’s why I’m determined to do all I can to get local young people back on the electoral register, and casting their vote in May.

This General Election is an opportunity for young people to shape their future with better policies on housing, jobs and pay. So make you sure you have a voice – and then make sure you get heard – because the stakes for your generation are greater than ever.

Next week will see National Voter Registration Day. It only takes a few minutes to register and you can do so here. You will need your National Insurance details to complete the online form.

Post by The Labour Party.

Only Labour has a plan to reverse the Tory NHS crisis

Like many hospitals in England, services at Wigan Infirmary are struggling.

The NHS has been put under unprecedented levels of pressure because of the failings of the government, and the problems in A&Es demonstrates the scale of the Tory NHS crisis we face.

Attendances at hospital A&E departments across the country increased by 600,000 in the first four years of the Tory-led government and last week it was revealed that only 7 out of 140 hospital A&Es hit the target to see 95 per cent of patients within four hours.

The Tory NHS crisis in A&E has its roots in the Government's cuts to adult social care, the abolition of NHS Direct, the closure of almost one in four walk-in centres and its disastrous decision to throw the NHS into the chaos of reorganisation.

David Cameron promised he’d protect the NHS but his Tory NHS crisis proves you can’t trust the Conservatives with the NHS.

This week in Parliament I voted to take action to save our NHS and deal with the Tory NHS crisis. Unfortunately we lost the vote thanks to Conservative MPs and a Prime Minister who refuses to take any responsibility, or even acknowledge that an NHS crisis exists.

Only Labour has the long-term plan to save and improve our local health service.

Firstly, we will invest in training and recruiting 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 more GPs to ensure that the NHS has the time to care for you and your family.

Secondly, we will ensure a binding waiting time guarantee to make sure everyone can get a GP appointment within a maximum of 48 hours. We will also guarantee that nobody will wait more than one week for a cancer test and result.

Thirdly, we will hire 5,000 more care-workers to join up services from home to hospital and ensure that the NHS is more efficient and care is better.

All of this will be paid for through fairer taxes on properties worth over £2 million, on hedge funds, and on tobacco companies. None of our manifesto commitments, including on the NHS, require any extra borrowing.

Building the NHS was one of our greatest achievements and we’re determined to protect it. Only a Labour government can ensure that the NHS will always be there for you and your family when you need it.

Post by The Labour Party.

Bomber Command Veteran recognised as daughter presented with campaign medals

Pic with Flt Lt Mike Barton, Cllr Susan Loudon,
Kenneth Talbot and June Talbot

A special presentation ceremony was held on Friday, 12th December to honour the contribution and sacrifice of Sgt Gerard Joseph Talbot.

Alongside Deputy Mayor of Wigan, Cllr Susan Loudon we presented Sgt Talbot’s daughter, June Talbot with four campaign medals awarded to Sgt Talbot for his service with 99 Squadron during WWII (part of the famous Bomber Command) in the presence of Flt Lt Mike Barton, Sergeant Mike Bevan and Chief Technician Andrew ‘Ruby’ Murray of 99 Squadron who had travelled to Wigan from RAF Brize Norton to honour Sgt Talbot.

Sgt Talbot's younger brother Kenneth was also in attendance.

Sgt Talbot’s family had never received his campaign medals and this led me to make representation to the MOD on behalf of Mrs Talbot following a conversation with Mr David Williams of the local Royal British Legion Branch in March 2013. Following due process the campaign medals were issued to my office in November 2014.

The medals awarded were are as follows:

• 1939-45 Star
• War Medal 1939-45
• Aircrew Europe Star
• Bomber Command Clasp

Sgt Talbot was a rear gunner with 99 Squadron and the crew of the Wellington Bomber were lost without trace on the return from a sortie to Berlin on 9th May 1941.

On 8 September 1939, No 99 Squadron entered WWII with the first of many leaflet-dropping missions over Germany. The first bombing raids were launched on 17 April 1940 during the German invasion of Norway. European bombing operations continued until January 1942.

I am pleased to have played a small part in securing Sgt Talbot’s campaign medals for his daughter, June and I know that she is very proud of her father and his service to his country.

It was a long time to wait, but I know that today means a lot to the family and to today’s 99 Squadron who made the journey from RAF Brize Norton to honour and commemorate their fallen comrade.

Granada Reports ran the remarkable story of Sgt Talbot on its Friday bulletin. You can view the video here.

Sgt Gerard Joseph Talbot, aged 22 was killed in action returning from a sortie to Berlin on 9th May 1941. Sgt Talbot was part of the 99 Squadron of Bomber Command and was a rear gunner flying on the famous Wellington Bomber.

The son of Joseph and Elizabeth Talbot he left a wife, Belinda Park Talbot of Wigan. He was born on 28th April 1919.

Sgt Talbot is remembered with honour at the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey. The Air Forces Memorial commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth.

A special school presentation for Christmas Card Competition Winner

Jasmin Whittaker

Today, I proudly announced the winner of my 2014 Christmas Card competition Jasmin Whittaker a pupil at Winstanley Community Primary School. I presented Jasmin with a collection of books during the school’s morning assembly.

The competition attracted entries from across the constituency with all of the designs being carefully judged by me.

It was an absolute pleasure to present Jasmin with her prize. It’s a great design and she’s clearly hit the right note, so I’m sure people will enjoy receiving the card in the run up to Christmas.

I know everybody at Winstanley Community Primary School School will be very proud of Jasmin and I am too.”

In this the competition’s 5th year, we had a fantastic response from local schools. The children clearly put a lot of effort into their art-work so it made my job of picking the winner extremely difficult. But I’d like to thank all of the children and their teachers for taking part.

Mrs Karen Thompson, Headteacher Winstanley Community Primary School said, “We submitted many high quality designs, hoping that one of ours would be chosen by Yvonne Fovargue for her Christmas card, so were very pleased when Jasmin’s was selected. We are extremely proud of her and the fact that our school name will now be featured on cards sent to so many important people!”

Yvonne also handed three runner up prizes to Rebecca Herbert, Tom McAllan (Tom was ill so thank you to Mrs Cardwell from Landgate School for attending. Get well soon Tom!) and Ana Kemp. All three designs feature on the back of the card.

Jasmin’s winning design will be sent to a number of distinguished people in the political world, including both the Prime-Minister, David Cameron and the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband. The card will also be sent to individuals across the Wigan Borough including the Mayor of Wigan, Cllr Phyll Cullen.

2014 Christmas Card Competition Winners

1st Prize

Jasmin Whittaker
Year 6
Winstanley Community Primary School

Runners Up

Rebecca Herbert
St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School
Ashton in Makerfield

Tom McAllan
Landgate School & College
Bryn

Ana Kemp
Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School
Wigan

Christmas Veterans' Lunch

St Matthew’s Parish Hall in Highfield was the setting for the now annual event attended by veterans from across the Makerfield constituency on Saturday, 6th December.

Attendees tucked into a traditional Christmas Turkey dinner provided by H&H Catering and Pemberton Brass band provided the entertainment.

MC for the day was former Welsh Guard and Falklands War veteran, Cllr Clive Morgan.

This year’s event was especially poignant given the 100th anniversary of the commencement of hostilities in WWI.

On behalf of the whole community across the Makerfield constituency, I want to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by the men and women present today both at home and abroad.”

The First World War was a conflict that changed Britain forever. It touched every family, affected every community and fundamentally altered our country’s place in the world.

The centenary anniversary is a unique opportunity for us to commemorate those who served and sacrificed for us on the frontline and the home front, and to think about the profound impact the war had on our society.

In a special gesture tickets for the forthcoming Wigan Athletic v Rotherham Utd match on Saturday, 20th December were made available to veterans attending the lunch.

Cllr Clive Morgan said, “This Christmas also marks the 100th anniversary of the unofficial ‘Christmas Truces’ on the Western Front as German and Allied forces played football across the battlefield and it is a wonderful gesture that later this month Wigan Council working with Wigan Athletic will commemorate this event at the DW stadium in the home game versus Rotherham Utd.”

Small Business Saturday

On Saturday, I visited Sportsline, a small business in Ashton in Makerfield to celebrate the contribution of small firms in Wigan as part of this year’s Small Business Saturday.

Sportsline is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses and I was joined by Mark Fergusson, Chairman of FSB Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and St Helens and branch committee member Ed Meeks.

Small Business Saturday is a grass-roots campaign that encourages people to shop locally and support small businesses in the local community. Last year it was the biggest celebration of small businesses in the UK and gave a boost to local shops through extra trade of nearly £500m.

The campaign is supported by all three major political parties and activities were taking place across the country to promote Britain’s small businesses.

It is so important that we support our small and independent businesses. They are a vital part of our local economy and local community and we need to get behind them. They matter to our town, like Sportsline. They add character to the High Street and are a source of local jobs and investment in the community.

There’re lots of great businesses in Wigan and the campaign is a great way of raising awareness and helping boost trade.

So many local businesses are doing a fantastic job. They give us greater choice and that something a little bit special. We all need to put our hands in our pockets to back our local businesses.

Sportsline owner, Ron Hart was formerly a PE Teacher. After leaving his teaching post, Sportsline moved to its current location some 10 years ago and are now in the 25th year of trading. A trusted local business, lines include traditional sports such as rugby, football, racket sports, ski and Sportsline is official stockists for local schools uniform requirements.

More information on Small Business Saturday here.

THE TORIES’ ECONOMIC RECORD IS ONE OF REPEATED BROKEN PROMISES

David Cameron and George Osborne have failed every test and broken every promise they’ve made on the economy.

They promised we’d be all in this together but then they gave millionaires a huge tax cut. They promised people would be better off but most people in Wigan are not feeling the recovery and working people are now £1,600 a year worse off under the Tories.

And this cost-of-living crisis is why the Chancellor had to admit that his key promise – to balance the nation’s books by next year – now lies in tatters.

Because wages aren’t rising and too many are stuck in low-paid jobs, the tax revenues we need to get the deficit down aren’t coming in.

Unlike Labour, the Tories don’t understand the fundamental link between the living standards of everyday working people in Wigan and Britain’s ability to deal with the deficit. George Osborne has now borrowed a staggering £219 billion more than he planned and the economy is set to slow down next year after forecasts for wages have been revised down again.

Yet the Chancellor still tries to claim that the economy is fixed and his plan is working. How out of touch can you get? What we needed yesterday was the better and fairer plan Labour has set out.

Labour’s plan will raise the minimum wage, expand free childcare for working parents, scrap the bedroom tax and cut business rates for small firms. We will balance the books in a fairer way, starting by reversing the Tories’ £3 billion a year tax cut for the top one per cent of earners.

Changing stamp duty to help people on middle and low incomes is welcome, but we also need to get more homes built and we need a Mansion tax to help save and transform our NHS. With an extra £2.5 billion a year on top of Tory spending plans we can get the extra 20,000 nurses and 8,000 GPs we need to help transform our NHS and save it from the Tories.

The Tories promised to eliminate the deficit by 2015 but with less money coming in because of their wrong economic decisions, they’ve broken their promise, failed their own economic test and its hardworking people who are paying the price. It’s time for an economic recovery for the many, not just a few.

I Voted to Protect Our NHS

The NHS is one of Labour’s greatest achievements and Britain’s most important institution. But it’s under threat from a Tory-led government which puts privatisation before patient care.

Labour’s mission is to make Britain work for everyday people and that means having the NHS there when you need it .

Now more than ever we need action to save our NHS. That’s why this week I voted for a Labour Bill which would scrap David Cameron’s new market framework for the NHS and ensure NHS patients are always put first.

I’m delighted that we won the vote and now the Tory-led Government needs to act to make sure patients are put before profits.

The NHS has never been more vulnerable than under the present government. The Tories wasted £3 billion on an unnecessary and damaging top-down NHS reorganisation. The new rules allow hospitals to earn up to 49 per cent of their income from private patients, which risks pushing NHS patients to the back of the queue.

Labour will invest the millions of pounds saved from scrapping unnecessary competition red tape in ensuring people can get a GP appointment within 48 hours, or on the same day if they need it.

I had no hesitation in voting for this bill as it will make sure patients in Makerfield are put first once again.

The Tories haven’t just destabilised our health service; they’re holding it back from meeting the challenges of the 21st century as well. This new Bill will end the creep towards NHS privatisation, bureaucracy and red-tape, and put patients back at the heart of the NHS. Now it’s time for the Tories to listen and put this bill into action so that patients in Wigan are prioritised once more.

THE TORIES’ IDEAS ARE BROKEN – IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE AND THAT CHANGE IS WITH LABOUR

We hear a lot of talk from the government about the economic recovery but there is little of this talk in Wigan.

Instead, people talk to me about how they are worried about their jobs, their wages and their children’s futures. I’ve lost count of the number of young people who’ve told me that they are able to make a decent living but unable to afford to buy a house.

And other people have asked me why they are on zero hours contracts while some at the top seem to get away with paying zero tax. It’s time to end that zero-zero economy that’s created a deeply unequal, deeply unfair, deeply unjust country that says ‘as long as those at the top are doing ok, our country is doing ok too’.

The Tories’ view is that low pay is the only way we can compete in the world and that insecurity is the way you make working people work harder. They believe that markets will always get the right outcome, even if that means powerful interests like energy companies and banks have all the power.

And UKIP think that working mothers aren’t worth as much as men, that life was easier when there wasn’t equality for gay and lesbian people and that the NHS would be better off privatised

But you can’t build a vision of the future if you don’t believe in equal rights. You can’t succeed as a country if you try to close yourself off from the world. And you can’t make a fairer country if you try to destroy our National Health Service.

These are failed ideas which are neither inescapable nor inevitable. The Tories don’t have the answers because they don’t understand the problem. There is an alternative and the next Labour government will make it its mission to change our economy so it works for everyday people, and not just a privileged few at the top.

I believe that we can make a real difference in local people’s lives. With Ed Miliband as Prime Minister we’ll create an £8 minimum wage, ban exploitative zero hours contracts, freeze energy bills until 2017, cut business rates, create extra apprenticeships and build thousands more new homes every year.

Labour’s vision is one where everyone who works hard is rewarded and where broken markets are reformed so that vested interests serve the public and not the other way round. We want to ensure that the next generation does better than the last and that wages are protected and not undercut by immigration.

Like every country round the world, Britain is susceptible to waves of change which create opportunities as well as challenges. The question is who is best to control these forces on behalf of everyday people. The answer is Labour.

Christmas Veterans' Lunch 2014

The 2013 Annual Veterans' Lunch

I will be hosting the third annual Christmas Veterans' Lunch on Saturday, 6th December at St Matthew's Parish Hall, Billinge Rd, WN3 6BL commencing at 12noon - 2.30pm.

Veterans of HM Armed Forces who reside in the Makerfield constituency are invited to confirm their attendance by email or by calling 01942 824029.

I expect that the event is likely to be oversubscribed so places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Applications close on Friday, 28th November.

Once again I am delighted to confirm that Cllr Clive Morgan will act as MC and entertainment will be provided by Pemberton Brass Band.

Freedom From Fear

Pic with me l-r: Graeme Lee, Gaynor Kirk,
Linda Lowe & Brian Topping

In the last twelve months over 300 frontline retail staff were assaulted every day, just for doing their job.

Today I visited shop workers at the Tesco Xtra Store, Cross St, Hindley to support the local Usdaw trade union ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign week (10th -14th Nov).

This week Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett revealed that over 300 frontline retail staff are verbally or physically assaulted every day, just for doing their job.

Verbal or physical abuse is not part of the job description for staff working in retail. Shopworkers should not have to put up with harassment or abuse from customers, when they are trying their best to serve the public.

Talking to shop workers on the frontline today revealed just how difficult it can be. Asking for age identification can lead to abuse from customers who get frustrated and a refusal to serve can be a real flashpoint for threats or even violence. That’s why I am asking the shopping public to show respect and understand that the shopworkers are only doing what they’ve been told to do.”

John Hannett said, “Too often retail employees are confronted with violence, threats and abuse and it is really important we stand together and ask people to keep their cool and respect shopworkers."

“In the course of their duties, shopworkers are expected to enforce the law. Whether that is preventing under-age purchases of products like knives, tobacco or alcohol, or detaining shoplifters until the police arrive, they can be put in real danger."

“Parliament has given shopworkers the duty to enforce the law and Parliament should provide the necessary protection. So it has been disappointing to see Tory and Liberal MPs, on four occasions in the last couple of years, combine to vote down additional legal protections when proposed by Labour.”

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing Trade Union with over 431,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

Cap welcomed on the amount payday lenders can charge customers

Payday loan rates will be capped at 0.8% of the amount borrowed a day, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have announced.

In total, no one will have to pay back more than twice what they borrowed, and there will be a £15 cap on default charges.

The loan restrictions will start from January the regulator said.

I have campaigned for tough action on payday lenders since my time as Chief Executive of St Helens Citizens Advice Bureau before I entered Parliament in 2010.

It’s a beginning not an end. The industry is very fast moving and the FCA need to be vigilant to ensure they do not find loopholes and invent new products that disadvantage vulnerable consumers. The effect of the cap and other rules need to be reviewed on at least a yearly basis.

Looking to the future greater choice in the market is needed. People who are in a position to borrow need a responsible short-term credit market. A vital part of this is the choice that is offered. That is why the mainstream High Street banks and Credit Unions should seize the opportunity to meet demand and offer their customers a better alternative to payday loans.

The price cap plan - which includes both interest and fees - remains unchanged from proposals the regulator published in July.

Remembrance Sunday 2014

I laid a wreath at the Cenotaph at the the Remembrance Sunday Service in Hindley. This year's commemorations are particularly poignant because they mark the one hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War, in 1914.

It was an incredible tribute to our servicemen and women and veterans, and their families, to see such a high attendance at the Cenotaph. It was an indication that as we reflect on the loss of that generation who went to war in 1914, we are also keenly aware of those who currently serve, most notably those who are returning home from Afghanistan.

Wigan is a patriotic town that is proud of our Armed Forces and veterans and their families. Their bravery and dedication deserves no less.

Wigan Healthwatch takes views to Westminster

Representatives from Healthwatch Wigan travelled to London to join forces with more than 100 fellow local Healthwatch organisations to raise the real life concerns of people using health and social care services.

Attended by more than 80 parliamentarians, as well as key decision makers from across the health and social care, the event provided an opportunity for us to speak with myself and parliamentary colleague, Julie Hilling MP, about the work they have been doing to shape local services on behalf of the citizens of Wigan and Leigh, including:

• Voicing the public’s concern about the Healthier Together proposals and recent consultation about changes to hospital services in Greater Manchester
• Working with local Healthwatch in Greater Manchester to investigate the Non-emergency Patient Transport Service and demanding improvements
• Providing an opportunity for children and young people to share their views and concerns about health and social care services

For more information visit Healthwatch Wigan 

Campaign to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse

Pic. with John Hannett,
Usdaw General Secretary

I have joined with members of the retail union Usdaw to campaign for respect for shopworkers as part of the Freedom From Fear Campaign, which seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse directed at retail staff.

Attending a campaign event in the House of Commons, I pledged to support a protection of workers bill that would introduce a specific offence of assaulting a worker serving the public.

Too often retail employees are confronted with violence, threats and abuse and it is really important we stand together and ask people to respect shopworkers.

I’ve been very disappointed to see Tory and Liberal MPs, on five occasions in the current Parliament, combine to block this measure when proposed by Labour.

Making the assault of a worker serving the public an offence in its own right would simplify sentencing. Under existing guidelines, assaulting a worker is an aggravating factor, but there are concerns this is not being applied when decisions are made about prosecutions and sentencing.

I will continue to campaign with Usdaw for a change in the law to ensure that proper punishments are given out. We must give a clear message that assaulting workers who are serving the public is totally unacceptable.

Respect for Shopworker Week 2014 takes place on 10 – 14 November. It is an annual event where shopworkers talk to the public about the problems of violence threats and abuse, asking customers to ‘keep their cool’. Part of the campaign will be encouraging shopworkers not to accept abuse as just being part of the job and report incidents to their manager.

World Mental Health Day

This World Mental Health Day I am echoing the call of Citizens Advice staff and volunteers and urging people to seek advice for their debt, benefits and employment problems.

New national research from Citizens Advice finds:

• 2 in 3 Citizens Advice clients feel stressed, depressed or anxious as a result of the problem they came to the charity for help about

• Almost three in four people (73 per cent) seeking debt help from Citizens Advice said their money worries were making them feel stressed, depressed or anxious

• After debt problems benefits are the issue second most likely to damage people’s mental health (67 per cent)

• Employment problems are third most likely to cause people distress (65 per cent).

• After getting advice, 4 in 5 people said they felt their mental wellbeing improved as a result of the help they received from Citizens Advice.

The purpose of today is to give voice to the millions of people across the UK who will experience mental illness this year and to speak out against the stigma that tries to silence them.

Let's build an economy that works for the many

We’ve had almost five years of the Tories’ so-called economic plan, and it’s failed working people with a recovery that just works for a privileged few. There are thousands of people across the Borough who are struggling to stay afloat and who feel the economic recovery has passed them by. They simply can’t afford another five years of Tory failure.

That’s why this week at Labour Party Conference we have set out our plan to transform our country by rewarding work, building more homes, raising the minimum wage, creating more apprenticeships and saving our NHS.

We’ll tackle the cost-of-living crisis by helping working families so, when the economy grows, the wages of everyday working people grow as well.

People in Wigan tell me that there are not enough high quality apprenticeships available for school-leavers. So we will give all young people a shot in life by ensuring as many school-leavers go on to apprenticeships as go to university.

For many people in our area the dream of home ownership is just that: a dream. So to meet demand for new homes, Labour will double the number of first-time buyers getting on to the housing ladder each year.

One in five British workers do the right thing and work long hours but still find themselves struggling on low pay. So the next Labour government will raise the minimum wage to £8 by 2020, a move that will put an extra £3,000 a year in the pockets of Britain’s lowest paid workers.

And we’ll create a £2.5 billion Time to Care fund to pay for 36,000 new NHS staff to save and transform our health service so it’s fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The next Labour government will balance the books by the end of the next Parliament so the Time to Care Fund will not be paid for through more borrowing or by raising taxes on everyday working people. Instead, the money will be raised by asking those living in houses worth over £2m to pay more tax, a co-ordinated crackdown against tax avoidance, and asking the tobacco companies to contribute towards the costs they impose on the NHS.

These policies are the pillars supporting Labour’s national mission to build a new Britain that rewards everyday working people. If we work together, we have an opportunity to create the change our country so desperately needs. Let’s seize that opportunity.

Recall

I support the principle of a right to recall where an MP has been involved in serious misconduct as I believe this would provide greater accountability and it would further empower constituents. The right of recall could also increase public engagement in politics and help to restore public trust.

The previous Labour Government had plans to introduce a right of recall and there was broad cross-party support for this at the last General Election. The Government has now brought forward a Bill. Whilst late in the day, it is to be welcomed.

I am not in favour of a system of recall that simply enhances the House of Commons' internal disciplinary procedures. There is a real risk that such a system will be seen as the political establishment closing ranks and could lose the confidence of the public.

In addition, any system of recall has to be designed in such a way that will avoid powerful vested interests from taking action against MPs, where no wrongdoing has happened, but they simply dislike the way a politician has voted on controversial issues.

I will therefore be judging the Government's Bill on the basis of these two conditions.

Recall could play an important role in giving people a bigger say if we get the detail right.

Blind Veterans UK

Veterans in Makerfield should not have to battle blindness alone. Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women, are raising awareness of the charity’s vital support and services, and to highlight its beneficiary recruitment campaign which seeks to reach more veterans who are eligible for its support.

The work Blind Veterans UK does is vital in supporting veterans in Makerfield and across the UK. I am pleased to help raise awareness of their vital services and to pledge my support to ensure that every veteran with severe sight loss in Makerfield will not have to battle blindness alone.

The charity’s No One Alone campaign is reaching out to the estimated 68,000 veterans with vision impairment in the UK who could be eligible for support but are not currently receiving it.

Blind Veterans UK’s ‘Living the Pledge’ report which sets out the current difficulties faced by the veterans’ community, and called on MP’s, local authorities and NHS healthcare professionals to improve referral pathways to the charity so that veterans are signposted to support as a matter of course, once they are diagnosed with severe sight loss.

If you are, or know of, a veteran with severe vision impairment and would like more information about Blind Veterans UK’s or call freephone 0800 389 7979.

Spell out your organ donation decision

New figures out this week show that just 45% of families agree to organ donation going ahead if they are unaware of their loved one’s decision to be a donor but this figure rises to 95% when they know the decision. During National Transplant Week (July 7-13), I am highlighting the importance of telling family and friends your donation decision.

I attended a recent event at the Houses of Parliament organised by NHS Blood and Transplant and the British Kidney Patient Association. The aim of this year’s Transplant Week campaign is to get people to ‘spell out’ their donation decision to increase awareness that families will be asked to agree to organ donation and to encourage more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

I am on the Organ Donor Register myself and have seen at first hand the impact of organ donation. My Father in Law received a donated Kidney following years of kidney dialysis.Organ Donor

Letting your loved ones know you want to be an organ donor is so important. It is devastating for families when someone they love passes away so it’s not fair to expect them to have to make the decision for you. If you talk openly to your family about your decision to donate your organs it could save them a great deal of stress when you die.

On average 3 people a day die in need of an organ transplant in the UK because there aren’t enough organs available. Despite the thousands of life-saving transplant operations which take place every year, around 10,000 people are currently in need of a lifesaving organ transplant.

For further information about National Transplant Week and to register visit this weblink.

You can view statistics by council area and parliamentary constituency here.

Wigan Armed Forces Day 2014

Wigan Town centre was packed on Saturday to witness Armed Forces Day. People up and down the country gathered to recognise, remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the British Armed Forces community. Our Service personnel work around the world in some of the most dangerous situations to defend Britain’s interests and national security. Just like those before them, they do so with unequivocal commitment, enduring professionalism and resolute courage. But the sacrifice associated with military life is rarely endured alone – we must not forget the impact on the friends and families of those who serve too. They provide invaluable support to loved ones away from home and the contribution they make to local communities should never be underestimated.

Let's get Bradd on the plane to Poland

An impressive haul of medals at national and international level would demonstrate a long and successful career for any sportsman but for one youngster from Ashton in Makerfield his career is only just beginning.

Bradd Parfitt, aged 14, only started Karate in 2008 but is already a Black belt 1st Dan and is working towards 2nd Dan.

Bradd is improving all the time with training at the Rising Sun in Ashton-in-Makerfield and with the GB squad in Bury. He also has private lessons and has won numerous awards in competitions at National and International level. Last year Bradd gained a bronze medal in The European Championships which took place at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. He also won a gold, silver and two bronze at the 1st Kizuna World Cup.

Bradd is set to realise his dream of representing his country at the WUKF World Karate Championships in Szcecin, Poland, this October.  He needs to raise £2000 to cover costs for this and other International Championships over the next 12 months.

Bradd’s mum, Dawn contacted me about the funding difficulties faced by Bradd. Karate is not funded by the Lottery or Sports Council. Dawn strongly believes that it is imperative that GBs top athletes compete on the world stage at the earliest opportunity and Bradd is undoubtedly one of the best athletes in the country.

Dawn Parfitt said, “Bradd has been competing at the highest level for the past three years, and has managed to place in every competition with the exception of his very first one.  He has shown consistency throughout at his own age as well as higher age groups. We are so proud of his achievements to date, and look forward to many more in the future."

If anyone would like to sponsor Bradd on a permanent basis they can contact Dawn on 07717054572.

Bradd is working hard raising funds himself and is set to take part in the Big Fun Run in Sefton Park, Liverpool during August. His dream is to compete at the highest level and he is working hard to be the best that he can be but he needs the support of the local community to give him a financial boost.

Wigan is a hot bed of sport and I know that people will want to get behind Bradd and make sure he is on the plane to Poland later this year.

You can pledge a donation here.

National Care Home Open Day

HC-One Ashton View Care Home on Wigan Road, Ashton in Makerfield, threw open its doors by taking part in the second National Care Home Open day on Friday 20 June.

I dropped in for a for a cuppa and cake and was given a tour of the facilities by Home Manager Andrea Nicholson and the opportunity to chat with Residents.

The idea behind the day is to encourage local people to visit care homes in their neighbourhood and work together to develop strong relationships between the home and the community.

As part of the Open Day Ashton View hosted afternoon tea for Residents and visitors with a sing along to classic ‘rock n roll’ hits of yesteryear. Andrea Nicholson, Home Manager at Ashton View said, "This is a great way to showcase the excellent services on offer and the fantastic work that goes on at Ashton View. Some people still have misconceptions about care homes so we are keen to dispel any myths that are out there and for people to come and have a look around."

All too often we hear about the negative aspects of care but today I met with dedicated staff who are working hard to support residents.

Opening the doors to the local community provides the ideal opportunity to shout about all the positive things that are happening within the care home, that help to ensure older people continue to live a full and meaningful life.

I am urging local schools to visit Commonwealth War Graves in Wigan

Pic with Chris Hawes

I am urging local schools and constituents to visit their local Commonwealth war graves to gain a greater understanding of the scale and magnitude of the Great War and the impact that it has had on today’s society.

My call follows a national initiative spearheaded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the All-Party Parliamentary War Heritage Group and the ‘In From The Cold Project’ that maps over 300,000 Commonwealth war dead by each Parliamentary constituency. Today I visited Commonwealth War Graves with Chris Hawes of the CWGC.

The Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War is a time, not just for reflection and commemoration but also an opportunity to educate a new generation of young people about the extraordinary events of a hundred years ago and to bring to life some of the personal stories from this remarkable time.

Working with local groups and students gives us all an opportunity to explore how we would like to secure this legacy for generations to come.  Visiting the graves of the fallen is a simple but profoundly important way to commemorate the outbreak of the war.

Chris Hawes said, “The Centenary is an opportune time for us to re-engage and connect with local communities and young people, and explain how the people who are buried in our graves got to be there, who they were, and where they were from.  More than 300,000 Commonwealth servicemen and women are commemorated in the UK. Many died in military hospitals whilst being treated for their wounds or fell victim to the flu pandemic as the conflict drew to a close. Their graves reflect both the local impact of the war but also its wider historical significance."

“To highlight some of the personal stories of those who are buried or commemorated in our graves, we are installing over 100 visitor information panels throughout the UK during the Centenary.  The panels incorporate QR codes which, when scanned with the latest smartphone technology enable visitors to read these stories and understand the historical context.”

At the Education Show in mid-March, CWGC launched an online Virtual Cemetery education portal that provides schools and teachers with a comprehensive range of resources and support materials linked to the graves and memorials in their home town. The virtual cemetery website is an interactive tool which enables pupils and teachers to view images and videos, learn more about CWGC’s work across the globe, and – most importantly – the people that are commemorated in its cemeteries and memorials.

The virtual cemetery resource has been designed to encourage debate and spark pupils’ interest in thinking about the centenary of the First World War and the different ways in which everyone can remember the servicemen and women who gave their lives in the conflict.  The website also supports teachers with curriculum notes, lesson plans and suggestions for classroom activities.

During the tour I visited the following cemeteries with Chris:

Ince-in-Makerfield (Westwood Lane) Cemetery (Over 300 CWGC graves located at this site)
Wigan Cemetery
Goose green (St Paul) Churchyard
Highfield (St Matthew) Churchyard

CWGC maintains the graves of the 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died during the two world wars. It also holds and updates an extensive and accessible records archive.