December & January 2012 Monthly Report

Parliamentary Business

Autumn Statement

On the 29 November the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne made the Autumn statement which sets out the state of the economy and some changes that can be expected next year. The Budget on 21 March will set out detailed spending plans.

The Chancellor announced that the office of budget responsibility would be revising down its prospects for growth, meaning that the economy will not grow as much as previously predicted.

The Chancellor announced a number of changes to tax, pensions and measures.

The personal tax allowance (the amount individuals can earn before tax) will go up to £8,105 from April 2012, there will be a freezing of the capital gains tax annual exempt amount at the current £10,600.

The Chancellor also had to revise his projection of unemployment upwards too. As I have previously reported unemployment in Hackney South and Shoreditch is on the rise. I continue to prioritise the issue of unemployment and its effect on life chances, particularly for young people.

The Government hope that the measures they announced in the statement, including investment in infrastructure will stimulate economic growth.

However I fear that without further investment, growth will continue to stall and unemployment will continue to rise.

Europe - Cameron's use of the veto

At the Brussels EU Summit Prime Minister David Cameron used the UK"Ÿs veto to stop a new EU treaty.

Cameron had asked for exemptions from the new financial regulations in the new EU treaty, he argued these were safeguards to protect the City of London.

The UK needs to remain at the heart of decision making in the EU.
The actions of the PM have isolated the UK. Having a strong voice in Europe has helped the UK shape EU policy in recent years. In future I fear that key decisions will be taken without the UK"Ÿs involvement.

The PM must ensure that Britain remains at the heart of the EU; it is in our national interest.

Living Standards

I am very concerned by the current economic situation and the fall in living standards. I spoke in the House of Commons on this issue.
I highlighted how the policies of the current Government are affecting people in Hackney.

The shortfall that many families are now facing due to the housing benefit cuts will leave many families struggling. In Hackney South and Shoreditch 21 per cent of households have an income of less than £15,000 a year.

As of March 2011 just over 58 per cent of young people aged up to 19 years live in households receiving means-tested benefits.

Rising prices on the high street and increased energy costs are also taking their toll.

The problems are made worse by rising unemployment, and in particular, youth unemployment. As I have written in previous reports we are in danger of creating a lost generation.

In late November I held an Olympics jobs surgery in Homerton. I hope the Government will also do more to get people back into work.

Tax evasion

Over the past few months many of you have written to me raising your concerns over tax avoidance and evasion in the UK.

The Government has said that it recognises the need for combating tax evasion and avoidance and have assured me it is taking steps to reduce this practice.

I am disappointed that the Government will not be supporting the tax and financial transparency bill at second reading (the debate on the principles of the bill).

The Government says the bill would lead to more administrative burdens on Her Majesty"Ÿs Revenue and Customs with little gain.

The UK has been pressing G20 members to sign up to the convention on mutual assistance which would allow for tax information exchanges between the various nations.

The UK Government also needs to ensure it keeps its own house in order. The Public Accounts Committee, which investigates value for money, effectiveness and efficiency of public expenditure projects, recently published its findings following an inquiry into HMRC. The committee was concerned about HMRC letting big businesses like Goldman Sachs off paying back taxes. HMRC appears to treat business differently from private individuals

I hope the Government continues to press for international co operation when it comes to tackling tax evasion and avoidance.

Future of sport in school

In its bid for the 2012 Olympics, part of the legacy promised by the UK was an increase in the provision of school sport.

Since 2010 there have been a number of cuts to the funding of school sport, These include scrapping ring-fenced funding for specialist sports academies; cutting funding for free swimming for under 16s and the threat to school playing fields due to changes in planning in the Localism Bill.

The legacy from the Olympic Games must not be just about elite sport but grassroots and school sport. As well as physical benefits sport helps with developing self-discipline and confidence, builds team working skills and contributes to improved educational attainment.

The Government has now announced that they will fund every secondary school to host a community sports club. I will watch with interest to see what this will deliver for Hackney"Ÿs school children.

Stop and Search

The new London police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe has announced an overhaul of stop and search.

At a meeting with him before Christmas I pressed home concerns I have received from constituents about the rude and aggressive way stop and search is sometimes carried out.

Mr Hogan-Howe is insisting that stop and search should be used following better evidence, when information tells police that there is a real threat of someone carrying a weapon. He is also insisting that officers will have to be more polite. I await the outcome of the review.

Energy prices update

I wrote about the unacceptable price hikes by the Big Six energy companies last year.

I welcome steps by energy companies to reduce some tariffs. Those on pre-payments metres are still paying over the odds and this needs to be tackled

The dominance of six companies in the UK energy market remains a serious concern.

Other Issues

Northern Rock

At the end of last year the Government agreed to sell the nationalised bank Northern Rock to Virgin.

Northern Rock is being sold on a discount and despite promising to encourage mutuals and foster diversity, the Government does not seem to have looked into the option of remutualisation adequately.

The deal with Virgin money was expected to be completed by 1 January 2012. The Government argued that this deal represented the best deal for the UK and that that stand-alone remutualisation was not a viable option.

As a Co-op MP I am particularly disappointed that we have lost an opportunity to put a large bank in the hands of its customers as a mutual.

To read more of the debate Northern Rock click here

Travel cost increases

The New Year has brought in a great rise in travel costs across London and the rest of the UK. The Government raised the cap on fares and fares have risen by up to 11 per cent. This is an extra burden on struggling commuters and families and adds to the cost for Hackney people going to work. The National Audit Office has warned that the increased train fares will lead only to greater profits for the rail companies. In London the average fare has risen by 5.6 per cent with tube, bus, London overground, docklands light railway, boats and tram services affected. Transport for London (TfL) said the rise was to ensure transport upgrades and frontline services were protected.

Nigerian state of emergency

On Christmas Day there were a number of attacks on Christian churches in Nigeria. Islamist group Boko Haram, later claimed responsibility for the attacks. As a response to the attacks President Goodluck declared a state of emergency in four states in Nigeria. There is a large population of people from Nigeria or of Nigerian descent who live in Hackney South and Shoreditch. Black Africans form about 9.2% of the population (figures are not broken down by country). The situation in Nigeria will be of serious concern to many of my constituents with friends and relatives in those four regions. Many tell me of their dismay and fear that reprisals could lead to more violence.

I chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria, and in that role continue to question ministers about international and economic development in Nigeria.

NHS risk register

Many constituents have raised concerns about the Government ignoring the Information Commissioner"Ÿs judgement that the Department of Health should publish its transition risk register relating to their NHS reforms.

Government minister Lord Howe, states that the Government intend to keep risk registers like this one confidential to enable "robust risk management".

He also says that he expects "the Appeals Tribunal will consider this case in the New Year".

I will continue to oppose the NHS Bill and will keep you informed about the outcome of the Tribunal.

Hackney Issues

Olympics Update Legacy for Olympic Venues

With 200 days to go before the Olympics the Olympics organising committee announced the long-term management arrangements for the Olympic Park, The handball arena and the aquatics centre. Balfour Beatty will take over the management of the Olympic Park. Social enterprise Greenwich Leisure, which runs Hackney"Ÿs leisure centres, will run the aquatics centre and the handball arena (which will be renamed the copper box). Hackney markets I have recently had meetings with traders and residents around two of Hackney"Ÿs markets; Broadway and Hoxton Street. In both cases a thriving market is necessary to help sustain the surrounding shops. However, in Hackney there has been a considerable drop in footfall locally. I will be working with local stall holders to support initiatives to improve the success of these vital local assets. IntoUniversity - Hackney Centre A group of primary school children visited me at the House of Commons. They have taken part in a project run by the Hackney Centre of IntoUniversity. They are a national charity which runs projects to raise aspirations for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Hackney Centre was launched in February 2010.

The 9 and 10 year olds each wrote a letter outlining concerns about issues ranging from litter and school dinners to pollution and climate change. Projects like IntoUniversity are extremely important in raising aspirations and self-belief in young Hackney children.

Olympic jobs surgery

At the end of November last year I held an Olympics jobs surgery for residents from Kingsmead and Clapton Park estates. I am keen to help Hackney residents secure jobs created as part of the Olympic legacy. With the help of the Hackney Council regeneration team, representatives from job brokers Onsite, Reed Employment and SEETEC were able to add over 30 new people looking for jobs to their books. It was moving to see people leave with a spring in their step. And I was delighted when one young man returned to bring his friend along. One woman has written to me since to tell me that she had support to prepare for an interview as a result of the surgery. She starts her new job soon. I hope to host more events to help local people secure some of the security jobs which will soon be available. There are at least 250 new jobs in permanent venue management after the Games. I am also urging the Olympic authorities to audit the jobs after they have been offered to make sure that they really do go to local residents.

Digital Switchover comes to Hackney

October 2012 will see the end of analogue TV in the UK. London begins the switchover to digital in April.

It is important that eligible groups in Hackney get access to the switchover help scheme. Letters are being sent to households which include older people and disabled people.

The help scheme also provides a talking box which adds an audio description for partially sighted people.

Most analogue TVs can be converted to digital so you should not waste money ditching your TV and buying a new one.

For more information and help with the switchover visit
or ring for advice: 08456 50 50 50.