April 2009 report

Parliamentary Business

Budget 2009

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling unveiled the 2009 budget on 22 April.

The budget includes a number of measures to support people out of work. An additional £1.7 billion has been set aside for the Department of Work and Pensions for extra support through Jobcentre Plus. 18-24 year olds who reach 12 months of unemployment will be guaranteed a job, training or work placement to ensure they do not get stuck in long-term unemployment.

There is help for businesses with measures to allow loss making businesses to reclaim taxes on profits made in the last three years and a credit insurance scheme to help with cash flow.

Individual savers will be helped by an increase in the annual investment limit of tax free ISAs which will rise to £10,200 (£5,100 of which can be saved in cash). The higher limit will be available for over 50s in October this year and for everyone else in April next year.

The budget also includes an extension of the stamp duty holiday for all houses costing up to £175,000 until the end of this year and £600 million of funding for building more homes.

The 2009 budget also sets the first carbon budgets as required by the climate change act. There is an additional £375 million to support energy and resource efficiency in businesses and public buildings and £405 million of support for low-carbon industries and green manufacturing.

Coroners and justice bill

The coroners and justice bill had its third reading in the Commons at the end of March.

The bill makes a number of changes to the criminal justice system with the aim of increasing the rights of victims of crime and support for bereaved families.

Included in the proposals are changes to provide better protection for witnesses, particularly those of gun and gang crime, right from the early stages of the criminal justice process. Young witnesses (under 18) will be automatically eligible for special measures such as the choice to opt-out of giving evidence by video. Automatic eligibility for special measures will also be extended to witnesses of gun and knife crime.

The bill also introduces a new anonymity order to protect witnesses during the course of investigations into gang related homicide and permanently afterwards. Breach of such an order will be punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment.

Part of the bill contains proposals for non-jury inquests in exceptional circumstances where highly sensitive material (relevant to the case) cannot be made public. Inquests are only conducted with juries in 2 per cent of cases but the Government recognises that such proposals raise concerns about the openness of the inquest process. The Government has therefore tabled amendments to tighten the criteria for certifying an investigation and put the decision to do so in the hands of the presiding judge.

Other matters

Bill of rights

The Government has put forward proposals for a bill of rights and responsibilities. The proposal to create such a bill will go through public consultation before being put forward as legislation.

The bill would entrench and protect the political, civil and social rights which we currently enjoy. It would also clearly state the responsibilities that we owe. It would draw together all the rights of citizens including all welfare entitlements which are currently not set down in one law.

To get involved in the debate visit
http://governance.justice.gov.uk/

To download the proposals visit:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/rights-responsibilities.htm

G20

World leaders met in London during April for the London Summit.

The Government's goals for the summit were to secure agreement to support the global economy, safeguard jobs and protect the poorest as well as reforming the international financial system to prevent future crises.

Amongst the agreements made were a commitment of an additional £1.1 trillion to help the world economy and restore confidence, jobs and growth; strengthening of financial supervision and regulation (putting in place a better system of surveillance and regulation) and reform our international finance institutions.

Rights for workers

A number of new rights for workers come into force in April.

From 1 April statutory holiday entitlement increases by 4 days for full-time workers (pro-rata for part-time workers). An estimated 6 million people will benefit from the increase.

From 6 April the right to request flexible working will be extended to parents of children aged 16 or under. This means if you have a child aged 16 or under and you have worked for your employer for 26 weeks continuously before applying, you will have a statutory right to ask for flexible working. Your employer must seriously consider your application and only reject it if there is good reason for doing so. This change will benefit 4.5 million people across the country.

Also in April, new powers come into force to take action against rogue employers who do not pay the minimum wage. There will now be unlimited fines for the most serious cases (formerly up to £5000). To report an employer not paying minimum wage you can call the national minimum wage helpline in confidence on 0845 6000 678.

April marks the tenth anniversary of the national minimum wage and it is important that we do all we can to ensure it is universally adhered to.

Prescription charges

From 1 April prescription charges will be abolished for everyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer or the effects of cancer treatment.

The scheme is available to those holding a medical exemption certificate and patients can collect certificate application forms from their GP surgery or oncology clinics.

New health checks

Everyone aged between 40 and 74 in England will now be invited to attend a free health check to identify their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

These illnesses currently affect 4 million people in England and are responsible for a fifth of all hospital admissions.

Homeowners mortgage support

From Tuesday 21 April mortgage holders will be able to apply for homeowners mortgage support.

This will enable eligible borrowers to reduce the monthly interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years if they have suffered a temporary loss of income.

Most major high street banks and building societies have signed up to the Government programme and those that have not (HSBC, Barclays, Nationwide and Santander) have confirmed they will offer comparable arrangements.

For more details on the scheme visit www.direct.gov.uk/HMS

Tackling deforestation

The Government is looking to strengthen proposed European legislation on banning illegal timber. Every year the world cuts down enough trees to cover an area the size of Portugal.

The Government is pressing for an EU-wide prohibition on placing illegally produced timber on the market and will be working with European partners to move this forward.

From 1 April only independently verified timber from legal and sustainable sources will be used on Government estates. Central Government departments are estimated to purchase 20% of all timber bought in the UK. This rises to 40% if local authorities and other government bodies are included.

Electric cars

The Government has introduced a new strategy to make it easier to buy and run an electric car. Less than 0.1 per cent of the UK's 26 million cars are electric.

In 2011 customers will be able to get help from the Government in the region of £2,000 - £5,000 when choosing an electric car. The strategy also includes a budget of £20 million to develop the necessary infrastructure including charging points. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars are expected to hit the mass market in 2011.

The Government has already committed £400 million to support development and encourage uptake of low emission vehicles. This is in addition to the £2.3bn package of support for the automotive industry in the downturn.

For more information on the Government's support for developing low carbon technology visit
www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/lowcarbon/index.html

The electric cars strategy can be downloaded at www.hmg.gov.uk/lowcarbon

Clamping down on rogue wheel clampers

Rogue wheel clamping firms could soon find themselves subject to tough new regulations. The Government is looking to introduce compulsory licensing for clamping firms to crack down on the minority of firms who break the rules.

The licensing scheme would include standards such as a maximum penalty charge, a complaints and appeals policy, evidence requirements and regulation of the security and location of the pound.

A formal consultation on the proposals will be launched shortly.

Artists wanted

Arts Council England is offering 12 commissions of up to £500,000 for new art works of any kind in each of the nine regions in the UK, including London, to celebrate London2012.

Already 39 applications have come from the London region but there is still time. The closing date is 29 May and applications can be made at www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk

Hackney issues

Free swimming launch

From April, Hackney residents over 60 and under 18 will have access to free swimming sessions.

The part Government funded scheme is aimed at opening swimming pools up to communities and getting people active. Swimming is the most popular participation sport in the country with one in every fourteen people swimming once a week.

For more information on how to access the free sessions visit www.hackney.gov.uk

Parenting Fund

Two Hackney organisations have been awarded Department for Children Schools and Families grants from the parenting fund.

The parenting fund provides grants to third sector organisations to deliver support services to parents and families. Both the Nia Project and Family Action have been successful.

Olympic garden competition

A nationwide competition has been launched to find a budding gardener to design the Great British Garden on the Olympic park.

Amateur gardeners across the country will be able to submit their designs for the garden. Winners will be picked from either the under 16 category or over 17 category.

Six finalists will be shortlisted by a panel of experts before facing the public vote. The winners will get to work with a team of professional landscape architects and garden designers to bring their designs to life ready for 2012 and after.

The competition is run in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and entry forms can be downloaded at:
www.rhs.org.uk/news/olympicpark.asp

Entries must be submitted by 31 July 2009.

London sports development

Young Londoners are being given the opportunity to train as referees and umpires in one of the 17 Olympic and Paralympic sports.

The London Development Agency and Sport England are running skills development programmes for young people aged 16 and over. They will finish with a recognised qualification and the opportunity to apply for a role in the 2012 Games.

For further information and instructions on how to apply visit the Official Sports London website at www.officialsports.org

World's fastest velodrome

Work is now underway on the Olympic park velodrome situated in the north of the park on the site of the old West Ham tip.

The designers, Hopkins Architects, are working closely with the track designers to create the right geometry and environmental conditions to make a world record breaking track.

The velodrome will be constructed by ISG who were also responsible for replacing the track at the Manchester velodrome where the British team train.

After the games the arena will be available for use by athletes and the local community. The legacy plans include a café, bike hire and cycle workshop facilities.

The venue design includes a 360 degree concourse level which will provide views across the Olympic Park and London.

2012 Olympics open weekend

London 2012 open weekend will take place from 24-26 July this year.
Events will be taking place across London. To find out more visit www.london2012.com/openweekend