Regulation required for companies making money out of people in debt.

I have lent my support to a cross-party campaign calling for fee-charging debt management companies to face greater regulation after it was revealed that many are flouting rules meant to protect consumers.

The campaign for better regulation wants to stop consumers getting a bad deal from the private companies who charge those in debt to negotiate with and/or set-up payment plans with creditors.

The cross-party call for more effective regulation includes:

• an immediate ban on cold calling
• an immediate ban on the charging of upfront fees for debt management
• effective auditing of for-profit debt management companies

In March, a super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading, made by Citizens Advice, highlighted the harm done to consumers by widespread misleading marketing and excessive charges. In some cases fees are not even passed on to creditors.

In May, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance submitted its call for more effective regulation to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review. This followed the publication earlier this year of the Office of Fair Trading’s own investigation into compliance with existing rules. The review found that breaches of its guidance were widespread with misleading advertisements and poor levels of competence among their front line staff commonplace.

I’m calling on the Government to take urgent steps to introduce more effective regulation of the companies who make money out of people in debt. All too often these companies are not debt management companies but debt exploitation companies.

Of course, not all fee charging companies break the rules but the whole sector needs reform so that consumers know that they can trust those companies offering to help them with their debt.

If anybody is worried about their debt they should seek free advice from their local Citizens Advice Bureau. I know from working with my constituents that the Citizens Advice Bureau’s free debt management help can really change people’s lives: so if you need help, visit the CAB.”

The Early Day Motion on “Regulation of fee-charging debt management companies” is available here.

Legal Aid Bill cuts a further blow for the poorest

Severe cuts to Legal Aid will go ahead virtually unchanged, as the Sentencing and Legal Aid Bill was published this week by Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke MP.

A coalition of groups joined forces today at Wigan & Leigh Magistrates Court including Wigan & Leigh Citizens Advice Bureau, Stephensons Solicitors and representatives from the local Law Society calling on the Government to ‘think again’.

Free legal advice helps families stay together in their homes, in work and education. Over 650 000 people will lose out on this vital help through reforms to legal aid alone, at a time where other funding streams for free advice are under threat.
Reforms to Legal Aid will decimate the capacity of CAB, Law Centres, legal aid practitioners and other community advice agencies to help the most vulnerable people with serious everyday problems with issues like debt, employment, housing, benefits, immigration, clinical negligence and family matters.

The Bill also has profound implications for litigation funding and costs with proposals to reform "no win no fee" Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs).

Legal Aid was responsible for winning compensation for the miners in the 1960-70s, helped the Thalidomide children in the 1970s, and more recently, allowed the Gurkhas to win the right to live in the UK in 2008.
Over half a million people will lose out on advice, according to the Government's own figures, as the legal aid budget is cut by £350 million.

The proposals will very seriously restrict what advice legal aid funds, especially in social welfare, family and education law and who can get legal aid.

New figures demonstrate the impact on the Wigan Borough. Government proposals will see a 76% cut in the number of cases currently eligible for Legal Aid equating to over 2,300 fewer cases compared to 2010 with a total loss of funding of £428,000 to Legal Aid providers in the Borough.

The government should have listened to ‘thousands of dissenting voices’ and introduced reforms that would make the necessary savings without simply transferring costs to other parts of the public sector.

Legal Aid provision will be decimated in Wigan if Ken Clarke’s proposals remain unchanged. At some point in people’s lives they will need access to help currently funded by Legal Aid.

Legal Aid is a vital public service that we don’t often think about in the same way as the NHS or schools but it provides a lifeline for people who require professional advice on a wide range of issues from welfare benefits to clinical negligence.

The government's proposed cuts will make access to justice the preserve of the rich and powerful.

Ann Harrison, Chair of Stephensons Solicitors said, “Legal Aid is a fundamental right in any democratic society. It allows the poor, the vulnerable and the oppressed to have a voice and to be represented against large commercial organisations. We undermine our Legal Aid system at our peril.”

Chris Harris, Manager of Wigan Borough Citizens Advice Bureau said, “There is a powerful business case for Legal Aid funding for social welfare law advice, but, more importantly, the issue at stake is the access to justice for the most vulnerable."
 
“Effective face-to-face legal help, provided at the earliest opportunity, makes a vital contribution to preventing future problems such as homelessness, spiralling debt, family breakdown or stress, mental illness, as well as supporting people when they leave prison and helping refugees to settle more successfully into life in the UK."

“There are considerable needs for debt and welfare benefits advice, and we expect this to increase in the current economic situation, at a time when many people will be facing redundancy, and as the Government’s plans for radical changes to the welfare benefit system and the cuts to specific benefits are implemented.”

Visit here for full details of the Bill.

Act now and introduce a Financial Transaction Tax

Some call it the Robin Hood Tax, others call it the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) or Tobin Tax, I call it a really good idea. This tiny tax could take $400,000,000,000 out of the pockets of the bankers who got rich by crashing the economy and use that money to stop service cuts and help the people who are suffering the most from poverty and the effects of climate change, and who did the least to cause it.

This amazing 0.05% tax first proposed by James Tobin is gathering support right across the globe. It is an idea whose time has come.

Over the course of the past 18 months, the FTT has shifted from a radical idea to a realistic proposition considered by the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and Parliament, the G20 and several national governments.

Ahead of the European Council on 23-24 June, this is our chance to demonstrate the strength, breadth and diversity of support for the international Financial Transaction Tax. Our government need to know that we are watching them, and that we expect them to deliver. It’s a big day for a tiny tax which has a huge potential to improve people’s lives all over the world and here in the UK.

As a parliamentary candidate, in the months before the 2010 general election, I pledged my support for a FTT and politicians are increasingly sitting up and taking notice. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for the implementation of an FTT, be it at global or EU-only level. At national level, French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who currently chairs the G20, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have long been considered leading supporters.

You can pledge your support here.

Makerfield Labour Party Summer Dinner

Makerfield Labour Party members welcomed Stretford & Urmston MP, Kate Green to their Summer Dinner at Gallimore’s Fine Restaurant, The Wiend, Wigan on Friday, 10th June 2011.

Members were in buoyant mood following the recent local election campaign that saw Cllr Stephen Murphy (Orrell) and Cllr Joel Haddley (Ashton) join Labour’s cohort of Makerfield Councillors at the Town Hall.

Elected to Parliament in May 2010, Kate Green MP is a passionate campaigner on child poverty and is an influential member of the Work & Pensions Select Committee. Tipped for Labour’s front bench, Kate was recently described as the most knowledgeable parliamentarian on poverty issues by the Daily Mirror columnist Kevin Maguire.

Cllr Jim Talbot, Chair of Makerfield Labour Party said, “We were delighted to welcome Kate to Makerfield and hear her thoughts on the big issues of the day. It was also an opportunity to celebrate our recent local election successes.”

As host for the event, I wanted to thank Howard Gallimore and his staff for contributing to the success of the evening. Gallimore’s picked up the Environmental Award, at the 2010 Wigan Chamber of Commerce Awards and 2011 is turning into another great year for the Winstanley Business man as Gallimore’s continues to receive plaudits for its fine food at great prices.

Gallimore's website can be accessed at the following link.

Pictured l-r: Kate Green MP, Yvonne Fovargue MP, Cllr David Molyneux (Dep Leader - Wigan Council), Cllr Jim Talbot and Howard Gallimore.

Knowing Your Pulse Could Save Your Life

I joined Dr Adeniyi O Molajo of Ashton in Makerfield & Haydock Rotary Club on Saturday, 11th June, as part of World Heart Rhythm Week, to help raise awareness of the importance of pulse checks. Nurses from the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary were on hand to assist on the day.

The campaign, spearheaded by the charities, Arrhythmia Alliance (the Heart Rhythm Charity) and Atrial Fibrillation Association (AFA), aims to raise awareness of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder in the UK. Figures published by the Department of Health in 2007 suggested that AF affected in excess of 800,000 people in the UK. However, this is now considered to be an underestimate and that a more accurate figure may now be in excess of one million, with 200,000 patients being newly diagnosed each year. It is also responsible for 18%-20% of all strokes in the UK.

A simple pulse check is a quick and easy way of detecting AF and other heart rhythm disorders. It only takes four simple steps to learn how to take your pulse. By taking your pulse as various points throughout the day, you may be able to detect an unusual heart rate which you had not previously been aware of. In this instance it is advisable to seek advice from your local GP. 

I fully support this campaign to encourage people to check their pulse. It is astonishing to think that such a simple test could help diagnose and treat a condition which can have such serious consequences. I urge everyone to check their pulse and to learn more about this condition.”

Dr Adeniyi O Molajo, Consultant Cardiologist said, “The pattern of the pulse can indicate a heart problem and can serve as a pointer to the need for further tests such as an ECG. A particularly important cause of irregular pulse is atrial fibrillation. This can lead to stroke and damaged bowel as a result of the blood supply to the organs being interrupted."

"Knowing your pulse is a major public health initiative and will improve a patient’s chance of finding a successful treatment and ultimately save lives."

For more information click here.

For a good curry, there's naan better!

Hindley Curry House, Mahabharat has won a place in the regional final of the Lyca Tiffin Cup 2011 after being nominated by myself in the prestigious Lyca Tiffin Cup 2011 competition.

The national competition is held each year to find the best South Asian restaurant in the country. This year 60 restaurants were nominated. Mahabharat based on Market St, having won a place in the regional final will battle with other restaurants from the North West to become one of the national finalists in the Lyca Tiffin Cup 2011 Grand Final.

Within the next few weeks a mystery diner will visit the restaurant and judge whether the restaurant deserves to represent their region. For Mahabharat owner Mr G Haris, the nomination has been warmly welcomed. He said, “We are delighted that Mahabharat has been nominated. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent culinary experience in modern surroundings in the heart of Hindley.

I dined at Mahabharat during April and was impressed by the quality of food and decor, which led me to nominate Mahabharat. Having had an excellent meal at Mahabharat, I can personally recommend it.  As a curry lover I am delighted to be able to support Mahabharat in the competition. Mahabharat’s staff are warm and friendly and the food is delicious. I hope they go far in the competition.

Carers Week 2011

I have teamed up with TV presenter Angela Rippon to support this year’s Carers Week (13-19 June) to recognise the contribution made by those people in the Borough and throughout the UK who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.

The theme for Carers Week 2011 is ‘The True Face of Carers’. It calls for greater recognition for the diverse range of people who have caring responsibilities. The work they carry out is vital for their families and friends, and for their communities.

I met up with Angela at the House of Commons to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles. Thousands of people in Makerfield sacrifice not only their time, but also their money and their health in order to care for a loved one. Together they save this country an astonishing £119 billion. They deserve to be recognised for their contribution to both our local community and to wider society.

I am taking part in Carers Week to show my respect and appreciation for our carers. I also want to let them know that there are services out there to help them. Caring can be so incredibly demanding. It’s important that carers know that they don’t have to struggle on alone.

Angela Rippon has personal experience of being a carer. Other celebrities supporting carers and Carers Week include Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Jason OBE, Jack Charlton OBE and Martin Lewis.

Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 9 national charities: Age UK, Carers UK, Counsel & Care, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

For more information about local events and activities taking place as part of Carers Week click here.

Support for Regulation of Christmas Savings Schemes

I led a delegation to meet with Ed Davey MP, Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs to press for government support to protect the savings of members in the lucrative Christmas Savings Schemes market following the collapse of Farepak in 2006.

I was joined by Sir Ian McCartney and Suzy Hall, an independent board member of the Christmas Pre-Payment Association (CPA) and a 'survivor' of the Farepak collapse. For Sir Ian McCartney the meeting was ‘unfinished business’, following the key role he played in fighting for justice for the 116,000 agents and customers of Farepak.

I have continued the campaign for justice and the meeting with the minister followed a personal committment from the Prime Minister at PMQs on 24th November 2011.

The Directors of Farepak reached agreement with the Liquidators and a payment of £4million has been received. However, the terms of the settlement are confidential and further action against the Directors lay in the hands of the Dept for Business, Innovation & Skills who have commenced proceedings against its former Directors. Legal proceedings to disqualify directors of the failed business began in the High Court in February.

The government's Insolvency Service had applied to the court to disqualify all nine former directors of Farepak and its parent company. The nine, including former CBI boss Sir Clive Thompson, are fighting the action. As a result creditors of Farepak are still waiting for compensation at a rate of 15p for every £1 nearly 5 years after the collapse.

In the wake of the collapse, businesses in the sector such as Park Christmas Savings Ltd joined the CPA whose members have accepted a code of practice offering greater protection to savers deposits.

In the meeting, Ed Davey was ‘appalled’ that several high profile Christmas Savings Schemes run by the major supermarket chains were not members of the Christmas Pre-payment Association.

I have tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the major supermarkets to set an example to smaller traders and take membership as soon as possible and have written to them asking them to join the CPA.

Farepak was marketed as a savings club and its customers regarded themselves as savers and not creditors at the bottom of the pile waiting for compensation. The Farepak collapse has cast a shadow over the Christmas Savings Industry and it is a scandal that nearly 5 years later, people across the country still await compensation.The minister was appalled to learn that even now with the formation of the Christmas Pre-payment Association that supermarket giants like Asda are not members of the industry self-regulator.

Early Day Motion 1794 – Christmas Savings Schemes

That this House notes with concern that the major supermarkets operating Christmas savings schemes are not members of the Christmas Pre-payment Association; and urges them to set an example to smaller traders and take up membership as soon as possible.

500,000 forced to wait more than a year for their pension

The Government’s plans to accelerate the state pension age increases mean that 500,000 women will have to wait for more than a year longer before receiving the state pension, leaving many women aged 56 and 57 feeling robbed.

300,000 women born between 6 December 1953 and 5 October 1954, will have to wait an extra 18 months, and an unlucky 33,000 born between 6 March 1954 and 5 April 1954 will have to wait an extra 2 years, before being entitled to their state pension.

The majority of these women will already be well underway in their plans for retirement, with many already working reduced hours in order to care for grandchildren or elderly parents.  Yet they are now being forced to make significant changes to their financial plans, with just 5 years notice before the changes kick in. 
The unlucky 33,000 born between 6 March 1954 and 5 April 1954 are set to lose around £10,000 in lost state pension or more than £15,000 if they get the full pension credit, with less than 7 years to attempt to accommodate the change.

The Government’s plans to increase the state pension age disproportionately affects women and 3,500 women across the Wigan Borough are being made to wait up to two years longer for their state pension.  Many of these are women who have juggled working lives with raising a family have very little retirement savings to fall back on. The lack of warning of these changes means they do not have enough time to adjust carefully thought-out retirement plans and leaves them feeling robbed of their pensions.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Last Friday, I joined Wigan’s Firefighters at the home of Katie-Jo Finney, Sydney St, Platt Bridge (and her daughter Lacy) to support a vital free service offered by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.

Home Fire Risk Assessments (HFRA) are available to all households in Wigan and are free. Firefighters spent approximately 30-40 minutes with Katie-Jo discussing general fire safety issues, how to make a fire plan, and how to leave the property the safest way in the result of a fire.

The firefighters also went through a questionnaire regarding Kati-Jo’s lifestyle in relation to risk from fire and specific advice was provided, whilst the second crew member was fitting smoke detection where required and checked each room in the house for hazards and then discussing the hazard with the occupier to reduce the risk.

The Fire Service in Wigan aim to fit smoke detectors and carry out HFRA’s in all properties in the Wigan area and Wigan Station Commander, Steve Sheridan confirmed that his teams on average carry out over 40 HFRA’s a day. Agreements with partner agencies such as Wigan & Leigh Housing have seen HFRA’s carried out in all their properties over the recent past.

Wigan Station Commander Steve Sheridan said, "In Wigan we are committed to reducing fire deaths by ensuring that every home in the area has a working smoke alarm. We have already fitted over 100,000 free smoke alarms in our local communities across the Greater Manchester area. Along with fitting free smoke alarms, we also give occupiers a free fire safety check."

“Smoke alarms save lives and I would urge anyone without one to book a Home Fire Risk Assessment today by calling 0800 555 815."

Fire safety has progressed considerably since the 1980s when less than one in 10 homes had a smoke alarm. Due to the efforts of firefighters across the UK, the number of homes with a smoke alarm is over 80%, but this still leaves far too many unnecessarily in danger.

Smoke Alarms save lives and I know that Katie-Jo and Lacy will feel much safer for the advice received today.I would encourage every household without a smoke alarm to book a free appointment today.

Local Election Results

People are turning towards Labour once again, to be their voice in tough times. As well as the biggest share of the vote, we have won back some of the great cities from the Liberal Democrats in the north, and won councils from the Conservatives in the south. But we have got further to go.

Across the Wigan Borough we gained seats including that of Michael Winstanley in Orrell, current Mayor and leading Conservative in the Borough. Congratulations to Stephen Murphy for his victory in Orrell and also Joel Haddley in Ashton.

These results reflect people’s deep unhappiness with what this Tory-led Government is doing. It was a very bad night for Nick Clegg. But also a bad night for David Cameron. He failed to win a mandate at the last general election and has only been able to force through his right-wing, badly thought through policies because of Liberal Democrat support.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg want to get back to business as usual. Instead they should listen, and change.

For full details of the results here in Wigan click here

Official Opening of Constituency Offices by Labour's Shadow Secretary of Health John Healey MP

John Healey MP today officially opened the constituency office of Lisa Nandy MP and my office both based at Elizabeth House on Pottery Rd.

I was delighted that John was able to join us today and open the offices. Both Lisa and I are really pleased to be here at Elizabeth House and have secured a modern, fully accessible office with good transport links within walking distance of the town centre.

We both place a great deal of pride in the services the two constituency offices offer to constituents and today was an opportunity to showcase the facility as well as provide an opportunity for people to see for themselves the two offices and network with colleagues.

The Alternative Vote will be wrong for Britain

I joined opponents of a change in the voting system last weekend who held a street stall in Ashton Town Centre.

The street stall was held as it emerged that leading Labour figures across the Borough are backing a No vote in the referendum on Thursday, 5th May.

Cabinet members Kevin Anderson, Fred Walker and Sue Loudon are joined by Cllrs Terry Halliwell,  Myra Whiteside, Jim Talbot, Emma McGurrin, Jim Churton, Ann Rampling and Nigel Ash in supporting a No vote on Thursday, 5th May.

This is an important referendum – changing the voting system is not something we should do lightly. It could have all sorts of unintended consequences.

There is a very simple principle in politics and governments – whoever gets the most votes wins. It’s wrong that the person who came second or third can overtake the person with the most votes and be allowed to win because the second and third choices of the minor parties are counted again. Imagine applying the same principle at the Olympic Games and giving the gold medal to the person who came in third!

Ashton Ward Councillor, Nigel Ash said, “The Alternative Vote system is much more likely to produce
a hung parliament and the need for a coalition government. And coalition governments aren’t always the strongest. First of all it takes ages to do the deals between the parties, with politicians horse-trading behind closed doors – remember May last year.

“Because politicians make these secret deals after the election, it means that any promises they made during the campaign are thrown out of the window. Just look at what Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats have done on tuition fees to get a flavour. And we’re left with the crazy situation where it’s the politicians who choose who forms the government, and what policies they keep or ditch, not the voters, and that has to be wrong.”

Over 100 Labour MPs and Peers have pledged to vote No including John Prescott, Margaret Beckett MP, John Reid and Shadow Health Secretary John Healey MP.

For more info on the No2AV campaign click here.     

NWDA should honour committment to Rugby League

With the Olympics fast approaching, it’s easy to focus on what is taking place in London next year and how the North West will benefit from the legacy that it leaves. In what has been heralded as a golden decade of sport, there has been little attention paid to the first big international tournament taking place after the 2012 Games – the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

With the majority of World Cup games taking place in the North of England, the tournament will give people from all over the world the opportunity to view top-flight sport outside London and the chance to experience the history and culture we have to offer. In doing so, it would provide much-needed income to the region.
But the North West might lose out on both games and funding; as the regional government agency that had agreed to provide funding to the tournament, the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA), is being wound-down and it is looking to break agreements made with the tournament organiser the Rugby Football League (RFL). This has led to questions being asked in Parliament to ensure the agreed funding is in place and the UK and the North of England isn’t embarrassed by having to pull out of delivering the tournament. 

I am backing Wigan’s bid to be a host town for the World Cup and have written to the NWDA this week calling on them to honour their committment to the RFL.

I don’t believe they’ve considered the wider impact this will have on the region. I know the Sports Industry Research Centre at Sheffield University calculated that the total economic activity that will be generated by the World Cup is in excess of £24m in the North West alone. When you think about how much rugby league means to Wigan and the the North West, it would be ridiculous if we were unable to have our fair share of games and lose out on that vital financial income.

The decision resides squarely with the NWDA and I am disappointed that they tried to renege on signed contracts. I appreciate that as the Regional Development Agencies are being wound up that there are hard choices to make. But I would stress to anyone involved in the decision at the NWDA on the World Cup, that this is one way they can leave a lasting legacy in the region they have been supporting for many years.

Referendum Broadcast - No2AV

My visit to the Guide Dogs' Training Centre at Atherton

Today, I visited the Guide Dogs' Training Centre at Atherton.

As well as a tour of the centre, I also took on the challenge of a blindfolded walk with Macca, a guide dog in training, to experience the difficulties blind and partially sighted people face in getting out and about and how a guide dog can help them.

My visit follows a reception at the House of Commons about Guide Dogs’ Talking Buses campaign, which is calling for audible and visual announcements to be installed on all new buses to help blind and partially sighted people, as well as those with a range of disabilities. I am supporting the campaign.

I met with Richard Woodcraft, District Team Manager and  I was very impressed by the facilities and the professionalism of staff and volunteers. Undertaking the blindfolded walk with Macca brought home to me the vital role that guide dogs play in assisting people who are blind or suffer from partial sight loss.

A lack of information undermines the confidence and independence of vulnerable people who rely on buses to get around. Blind and partially sighted people, for example, cannot see where they are, and others including wheelchair users who face backwards on vehicles may not easily be able to identify their stop. These people risk ending up at the wrong stop. So I am backing the Guide Dogs Talking Buses Campaign.

There are around 4,500 guide dog partnerships in the UK. More information about the Guide Dogs' can be found here. Guide Dogs celebrates the 80th anniversary of the first guide dog partnerships this year, and a host of events are planned to mark the milestone.

International Womens Day (IWD) - Haigh Hall

Wigan Council have kindly forwarded to me some photos from the IWD event at Haigh Hall last month.

More pics can be accessed on Facebook here.

Hundreds of young women came together to mark IWD in a unique celebrate event at Haigh Hall.

The Very Important Females event, celebrating years of youth work with young women, coincided with celebrations across the globe to mark 100 years of IWD.

The Wigan Borough event, organised by Wigan Council’s Positive Activities for Young People team, saw young women currently attending girls groups across the borough come together with other women who may have benefited from this work in the past.

I was asked to say a few words and told those attending the positive influence my Mum played in my life. My dad wanted a more traditional role for me - get married and have kids but my mum persuaded him to let me go to university and that was such a positive event in my life and opened up a world of possibilities. I did later get married and have one very special daughter!

This year’s celebration had an international feel with Alexia Papin, Wigan Council’s Ambassadress for Angers in France, also attending. Lowton Girls Group delivered workshops on sexual exploitation and urged other young women to be cautious of who they meet online and what information they share on sites like Facebook.

Jobcentres 'tricking' people out of benefits to cut costs, says whistleblower

The Guardian (2nd April) featured a damning report on the increasing use of sanctions as a whistleblower blew the lid on this disturbing trend.

This follows my question to the Prime Minister on Wed, 30th March on the issue of the £50 civil penalty contained in the Welfare Reform Bill.

Completing complex benefit forms is a daunting task and many people make mistakes that are in no way an attempt to defraud the public purse.To then face a £50 penalty is disproportionate and unfair. If Government Departments faced a similar fine for official error, which happens on a daily basis across the country, the exchequer would benefit from millions each year.

Off course sanctions should be imposed on claimants who intentionally defraud the taxpayer but this latest proposal shows how out of touch David Cameron really is if he believes that a mistake on a claim form is intent to defraud.

Trained welfare advisers can guide applicants through completing often very complex forms, but under proposed Legal Aid reform, access to help and assistance will be ended, creating welfare advice deserts across the country.

To read the article in full click here.

Know Your Blood Pressure

I am lending my support to The Stroke Association’s Know Your Blood Pressure campaign and am urging the people of Makerfield to get their blood pressure checked in a bid to raise awareness of the dangerous link between high blood pressure and stroke.

I had my blood pressure tested last week at a Parliamentary Know Your Blood Pressure event hosted by The Stroke Association. With annual Know Your Blood Pressure day fast approaching on the 9th April this was just one of hundreds of events which are taking place across the UK throughout the year to encourage the public to get their blood pressure checked in order to reduce their risk of stroke.
 
Every year 150,000 people will have a stroke in the UK, however it is estimated that 40% of these could be prevented by controlling high blood pressure.

Thousands of strokes could be prevented every year if more people took steps to control their blood pressure. Having your blood pressure taken is a quick and painless measure and it’s one that could save your life. I’d strongly urge everyone to visit The Stroke Association’s website to find out if there is an event in your local area or make an appointment with your GP to get tested.

Over the last year more than 20,500 people have had their blood pressures taken at Know Your Blood Pressure events throughout the UK.  Over 40% of people were recorded as having high blood pressure. 

For more information click here

Think Ahead Stroke Awareness

Today, I visited Think Ahead Stroke Group to see for myself the work of the charity serving the Wigan Borough.

Stroke is caused by an interruption to the blood supply to the brain which can cause a variety of long term problems such as; Paralysis, Speech Impairment, Memory Problems and Depression.

I met with staff, volunteers and stroke survivors during my visit and was impressed by the range of services and support Think Ahead Stroke Group provide.

Think Ahead Community Stroke Group plays a very important local role in shaping stroke care and support through the NHS and Wigan Council. It is the voice of stroke survivors across the Borough and provides friendship, information, advice and education as well as respite breaks and social activities.

Their long term ‘Living with Stroke’ programme provides ongoing support to survivors to help regain confidence and abilities that have been lost through Stroke via a group of dedicated peer supporters, who themselves have experienced Stroke.

Mike Aspinall, Chairman of Think Ahead Stroke Group said, “We’re absolutely delighted and would like to thank Yvonne for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit us all here at Think Ahead."

“It means so much to the team and our members that high profile members of our community, such as Yvonne, offer their support to our charity and work with us to help raise Stroke awareness across Wigan and Leigh, we look forward to seeing her again very soon.”

For more information about Think Ahead Stroke Group click here.   

Yes, there is an alternative

On Saturday, I joined with hundreds of thousands of ordinary working people who peacefully marched through the streets of London to show that there is an alternative to the ideological driven cuts of David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

I joined members of Usdaw and can be seen pictured with Nic Dakin MP and Usdaw's National Political Officer, David Williams as we set out on the march nearby Parliament.

This coming Thursday, 5th May voters across the Wigan Borough go to the polls to elect local councillors - it will be an opportunity to send a message to this Tory-led Government who have inflicted £55 million cuts on our council, by electing local Labour candidates who will stand up and fight to protect our public services.

Wigan's Draft Core Strategy and my response to proposals to remove Green Belt status located near to Jnc 25 M6.

My letter of objection to plans to remove Green Belt status from land located near Jnc 25, M6 is detailed below.

Ms. G. Bishop
Planning Policy,
Civic Buildings,
New Market Street,
Wigan,
WN1 1RP.

17th March 2011.

Dear Ms Bishop,

Wigan’s Draft Core Strategy (Proposed Submission version)

Further to my letter of the 3rd December 2010, I wish to object to that part of the Draft Core Strategy proposing to allow industrial and logistics development on land off junction 25 of the M6 motorway, South of Wigan.

I consider the Core Strategy is not legally compliant and is unsound because it is not justified or consistent with national policy.  I set out below my views in this respect:

1 – Not legally Compliant:

My concern in this respect relates to the poor notification of residents of the Council’s intentions. The junction 25 proposal was introduced to the Strategy at a late stage. Those who became aware of it were given short notice to submit their observations. Indeed, following my objection in this respect, the period was extended a little from the 30th of November 2010 to the end of December 2010.  Even so, of the considerable number of homes affected by these proposals estimated in the region of 9,000, only 500 homes received a consultation letter. This is my opinion falls short of what could reasonably be expected in these circumstances.

As the Member of Parliament for the area, I can confirm that the proposals only became apparent to a greater number of residents in November 2010.

This is when I was first contacted by constituents with their concerns. In addition to complaining about the proposals, constituents were and continue to feel strongly that the plan is being rushed and that they have not been given adequate time to organise their opposition to the plan.

2 -  Not Sound:

a) Not Justified:

Proposals in the Core Strategy must be founded on a robust and credible evidence base. With this part of the Strategy, the Council appears to be placing much store by a commissioned report from GVA aspects of which I believe to be flawed. For example, I do not understand on what basis the ratings given to measure the adverse impact of the Green Belt status removal  has been determined.

I am also concerned that there are no guarantees the schemes put forward will realise the development and achieve the objectives of the Local Authority. We could have a situation where the Green Belt Status is removed only to find the plans for development are not taken up as the Council would hope leaving the land vulnerable to alternative development. The credibility of the whole proposal is questionable.

In addition, there are other sites identified as suitable within the report. Indeed the junction 25 schemes are not the preferred option and therefore not the most appropriate strategy when considered against the reasonable alternatives. 

b) Not Deliverable:

Within the proposal the Council assumes that traffic will follow a ‘route of choice’ that will mitigate, for the local area, the very obvious disadvantage with this site that junction 25 is not a two way junction. This is naive at best.

Whilst the Council would like to see the heavy northbound traffic that would be generated by this proposed development travelling southbound from junction 25 to junction 24 and turning round, there is absolutely no guarantee this will happen and indeed is often likely not to. The areas of Ashton, Bryn, Pemberton and Orrell will certainly be affected as northbound traffic seeks alternative (other than junction 25) access through the local community to the M6. Direct northbound access to the M6 via junction 24 will involve travel through Bryn/Ashton and direct northbound access to the M6 via junction 26 will involve travel through Pemberton and Orrell. I believe the traffic impact will be considerable and unacceptable.

The above argument is supported in the GVA document putting forward this site on the basis that ‘it is fairly close to rail links at Bryn Station’  Use of the A49 is therefore obviously envisaged .

I am also bemused to discover the Council advising on this issue that ‘the majority of commercial traffic is likely to travel southbound to access major commercial markets, including most of the north of England via the M62. The Midlands, the South East and east and south coast ports’. This is just an assumption with no credibility.

The Council advises that the traffic impacts arising will be given careful consideration at the planning application stage but we are being asked to approve the proposal on the basis of the traffic situation as it exists. Without the construction of a northbound access to the M6 at junction 25, which is cost prohibitive, this problem will not be resolved however much the Council may try by other means to reduce the impact.

The Council promotes this scheme and its plans to remove green belt protection on the basis of its attraction because of motorway access but that very argument is compromised because the convenient access is only for southbound vehicles and the local community will therefore suffer in traffic terms reducing the ‘benefits’ of this scheme.

In addition to the above points, residents have also raised with me their concerns about noise, air quality, visual impact and traffic congestion/nuisance the extent of which cannot be underestimated with a development of this size. Distribution centres usually operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week and safeguards can only reduce, not alleviate the adverse amenity impact and disturbance for nearby residents. The Council’s promises to protect the community from these effects are not achievable.

c) Inconsistent with National Policy:

The site currently has Green Belt status for a reason, to prevent urban sprawl by keeping the land permanently open. It is currently a necessary barrier between the areas of Bryn and Wigan and to approve its removal would be to accept unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas, neighbouring towns/areas merging into one another and encroachment into the community’s green space. Removal of the Green Belt status to provide a large new development area would not encourage the Council to recycle existing derelict and other urban land. These issues are of primary importance to the local community taking precedence over land use objectives.

This Green Belt status is valued by the community and they have demonstrated their total opposition to its removal. For the community, any benefits of the proposed development will certainly not outweigh the harm caused by the Green Bent status removal. The GVA document on the Green Belt issues acknowledges the damage that will occur as a result of the Green Belt status removal in this area. This, together with the traffic problems already identified plus the hostility of the community to this development means that the overall harm of the proposed development is not capable of being outweighed by other considerations. The ‘special circumstances’ criteria for the removal of Green Belt status is therefore not met.

I need also to raise the point of setting a precedent in relation to all Green Belt land adjoining/off the motorway network and devaluing Green Belt protection of such sites. If approval is given to remove the Green Belt status of this site, to allow employment opportunities, just because of its location then this puts all other similar sites at risk.

I do not believe changes can be made to make this aspect of the Core Strategy legally compliant or sound.   I consider GVA’s documents and advice to be questionable and the only course of action available would be the removal of the sites off junction 25 of the M6 motorway, South of Wigan as an option for industrial and logistics development.

I do wish to participate at the oral examination to represent the views of hundreds of constituents who have contacted me with their objections to this proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Fovargue M.P.
Labour Member for Makerfield.

250 Million reasons why the country cannot afford the Alternative Vote

Students take up free 'proof of age card' thanks to CitizenCard

Together with CitizenCard, the UK’s largest ID & proof of age card scheme I visited Winstanley College today to promote a free CitizenCard for every student.

CitizenCard contains the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram and a customised holographic overlay. UV (ultraviolet) marks also appear on both sides of the card providing certainty to retailers about whether a cardholder is over 18 years of age.

The Pass hologram means that each CitizenCard is recognised as valid ID under the law. For providing proof of age, it’s as legitimate as a photo-driving licence and more convenient than a passport.

Cardholders benefit from access to CitizenCard’s new ‘Lealta’ discount programme offering discounts at over 200 national brands including Asda, Debenhams, HMV and Top Shop. A further 20,000 local cinema, fast food and retail outlets are also offering discounts.

I was joined by CitizenCard’s Nigel Catlow and Wigan Warrior's Sam Tomkins to raise awareness of the CitizenCard and to encourage students to take up the free offer.

Young people are rightly concerned about taking their passport with them on a night out, due to the risk of theft or loss, and they require a reliable document. Retailers, Pubs and Clubs can be confident that the CitizenCard with its unique PASS hologram is proof of the age of the card holder.

Nigel Catlow, CitizenCard’s Marketing Manager said, “CitizenCards contain UV and holographic security that gives doorstaff, licensees and shop staff in Makerfield the reassurance they need that the cardholder is an adult. Our collaboration with Yvonne Fovargue MP means that young adults in Makerfield can save £15 and apply for a card free of charge.”

Each CitizenCard is issued only after the applicant’s identity and age have been rigourously checked. 14% of CitizenCard applicants are never issued as they fail the rigorous application process and in 4% of cases either the applicant or verifier are threatened with prosecution for suspected fraud (2006 UK Fraud Act).

A Free CitizenCard application form is available by calling my constituency office on 01942 824029.

Since 1999 more than two million cards have been issued at no cost to the taxpayer. Further information about CitizenCard is available here.    

Wigan Fire Station

I recently visited the station on Robin Park Rd with Lisa Nandy MP to discuss the Fire Service Action Plan for the Borough for the next 3 years.

We met with Borough Commander, Steve Sheridan and his team and was struck by the professionalism and dedication to the safety of local communities and Business in the Borough.

The importance of prevention, can never be underestimated and the service provides a free home fire risk assessment. For further information call 0800 555 815.

Heroes Return Deadline Extended

A scheme to provide assistance to WWII veterans to take part in commemorative visits to mark the anniversary of events that led to the end of WWII has been extended to 31st January 2012.

This extension to the scheme is to be welcomed. To date over 50,000 individuals have undertaken personal battlefront commemorative journeys to the places they saw action.

Grants of £150-£5,500 are available and both war widows and widowers of veterans are also eligible for funding with support also available for spouses and carers to fund travel with veterans.

The extended deadline will mean the Big Lottery Fund is committing over £1million in extra funding to assist UK WWII veterans.

Every veteran in the Borough has their own story to tell. The Heroes Return scheme is a unique opportunity for them to return to where they served and recall the memory of the sacrifice they and their fallen comrades made.

For more information click here.                    

VAT rise on Fuel should be reversed

Today, I am calling on the Chancellor George Osborne to reverse the government’s VAT rise on fuel.

The hike in VAT to 20 per cent in January has added nearly 3p to the price of a litre of petrol and will raise £700m for the Treasury, according to figures from the independent House of Commons Library.

Labour's Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls MP says the VAT rise should be reversed immediately on petrol using the £800m extra the government is now getting from the bank levy, compared to what it was expecting in the last Budget. 

I’ve consistently opposed the Conservative-led government’s VAT rise which has hit families across the borough and helped to push up petrol prices to their current record levels. It’s time the Chancellor George Osborne took immediate action on fuel prices to ease the pressure on families who are already facing a tough year and their incomes squeezed. He should immediately reverse the VAT rise on fuel, which has added nearly 3p to the price of a litre of petrol, using the extra £800m the Treasury will be getting from the bank levy.

And in the Budget later this month George Osborne should look again at the annual fuel duty rise due in April. The last Labour government often postponed planned duty increases when world oil prices were on the up - as they are now. The Tories promised a ‘fuel duty stabiliser’ to win votes before the election, but if they don’t deliver one it will just be another broken promise from this government.

The AA’s latest fuel price report shows that across the North West the average cost of a litre of unleaded petrol in February was 128.4p – up 6.7p compared to December before the VAT rise. And the current instability in the Middle East and North Africa is driving up oil prices around the world which means the price of petrol at the pump is continuing to rise.

Now is the wrong time to be making things even worse for hard-pressed families in Wigan by hiking up VAT, as this government has done. George Osborne should admit he got it wrong and reverse the VAT rise on petrol now.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said the VAT rise on fuel is the wrong tax at the wrong time and is hitting families and businesses hard and I agree.

A Labour online petition is up and running and you can sign it here.    

All Aboard the Guide Dogs' Talking Buses campaign

This week, I have called for buses and coaches to have audible and visual announcements about the next stop and final destination.

I have pledged my support for a campaign aimed at making bus travel easier and safer for blind and partially sighted passengers, and other sensory impaired people, at an event organised by the charity Guide Dogs’.

The Talking Buses campaign aims to get audible and visual (AV) information systems – which clearly tell passengers the next stop and final destination – installed on new buses across Britain.

Guide Dogs has found that many disabled and elderly people find it very difficult or impossible to use buses independently and with confidence for fear of being stranded at the wrong stop. They are often left feeling anxious and unsafe, and some give up using the bus altogether.

The charity is calling on the Government to make it a requirement for all new buses in the UK to have on board audible as well as visual information systems, as is already a requirement for trains and trams. It is also encouraging councils and bus operators to look at providing systems on existing vehicles to improve the accessibility and quality of service for local people.

In a YouGov survey, 66 per cent of respondents said they thought it would make bus travel easier if there were on-board announcements about where the bus is going and what stop is coming up.

A lack of information undermines the confidence and independence of vulnerable people who rely on buses to get around. Blind and partially sighted people, for example, cannot see where they are, and others including wheelchair users who face backwards on vehicles may not easily be able to identify their stop. These people risk ending up at the wrong stop.

As well as disabled people, Talking Buses would improve travel for all passengers – including visitors to an area.

Guide Dogs’ Talking Buses campaign has the support of 35 national disability organisations including Mencap, RNID, Campaign for Better Transport and Leonard Cheshire Disability. You can find out more about Guide Dogs’ Talking Buses campaign by clicking here.       

I am pictured with Transport Policy Officer John Welsman with his guide dog Sorrel.

The Politics Show - BBC North West

Yesterday, the BBC NW edition of the Politics Show featured two interviews with me. You can view the programme via the BBC iplayer here.

Scroll to approx 37mins 30secs to view the interview on the threat to local Citizens Advice Bureau followed by the cuts to local councils in the North West.

Please note that the programme is available for 7 days only.

The interview took place at the Three Sisters in Ashton in Makerfield with BBC Political Journalist Annabel Tiffin.

2011 Census

Next month will mark Census Day (27th March) and from this week an advertising campaign will be launched in England & Wales to raise awareness amongst the local community.

Census questionnaires will be posted out to households from 7th March onwards. For the first time, questionnaires can be completed online and assistance can be obtained by calling 0300 0201 101.

To learn more about the census click here.

Rock The House

I am proud to invite nominations from within the Makerfield constituency, to be considered for the best live band and best live music venue awards of the first ever parliamentary Rock the House competition.

Rock the House is an accessible vehicle through which to capture the imagination of the public and legislators in recognition of the need to support and promote the live music sector. It aims to promote the intellectual property rights of unsigned and up and coming musicians; and highlight the importance of live music venues to local communities.

Under the competition rules, I will nominate one band and one live music venue from Makerfield on 31 March 2011. Any band or live music venue can enter the competition by downloading and completing an application form and send fully completed submissions to my office at Elizabeth House, The Pier, Pottery Rd, Wigan WN3 4EX by 31st March.

Finalists and winners will be determined by an independent judging panel, which includes Chris Ingham, Group Publisher of Future Publishing, musicians and music professionals, Mike Weatherley MP and John Robertson MP (Chair of the APPG on Music).

The Panel will determine the five finalists in each category, and the shortlist will be announced by the end of May 2011. Each of the finalists will be invited to a star studded reception on the Terrace of the House of Commons, on 30th June 2011, where the winners will be announced.

The sponsors and supporters have pulled together an unbelievable array of prizes, many of which money can’t buy, including: the chance to perform live on the terrace at the House of Commons and at a top music venue or a music festival; a photo shoot with an internationally published music photographer; Yamaha gear and instruments; the chance to network and have consultancy sessions with top industry professionals; master classes from top sound and lighting engineers; the opportunity to record music; the chance to make a music video; invaluable PR exposure through coverage in Future Publishing’s catalogue of specialist music titles; and many more runners up prizes.

Rock the House is supported by a myriad of big names within the international and British music sector: Yamaha music; UK Music; Future Publishing; BPI; Live Nation; Consumer Focus; Music Managers Forum (MMF); Incorporated Society of Musicians; MVPA; the All Party Parliamentary Group on Music (APPG on Music); and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs & Clubs (APPG on Pubs & Clubs).

Music is hugely important to this country. My hope in supporting ‘Rock The House’ is to put the spotlight on some very important issues within the music industry and increase political support to ensure that the UK’s composers, artists and musicians can continue to dominate the world stage."

Certainly, I believe it is vital that we recognise role of intellectual property in enabling artists to generate an income, the significant contribution that music sales make to the British economy, and our continued development of new talent.

The future of music is in the hands of the up and coming artists, and the live music venues which support them, that are finding it increasingly hard to break through in a sector where many consumers think it is their right to access content for free.

For further information click here.