February Report 2012
Archive
05/03/12
Welfare reform bill
The Government is proposing a cap of £500 a week for every couple and lone parent household, or £26,000 a year. Recipients of disability living allowance and war widows will not be affected; however the cap will affect 68,000 households nationally.
Furthermore 20,000 people could potentially be made homeless because of the changes to housing benefit. A large percentage of households in south Hackney will be affected by the cap on housing benefit which comes into effect in March and April. Households will have to make up the shortfall in the rent. For many on low wages (many housing benefit recipients work) or without income, even temporarily, this will mean having to move.
Families who can no longer afford to rent privately will have to turn to the council. Many of those affected have been housed privately by the council in the first place because of the shortfall in affordable family homes locally.
Contact me to tell me how benefit changes are affecting you.
The existing welfare system is far from perfect, however any change must be fair. There is an alternative, a localised cap on benefits. I have long campaigned for London weighting on pay and benefits.
The welfare state is something we pay into for support in difficult times. I don't want individuals or families to be on benefits their whole lives but we need to strike a balance that preserves the safety net that a civilised society should provide.
The House of Lords voted to amend the bill. These amendments, which focused on removing benefit caps and reducing cuts to benefits, were then voted on in the House of Commons. I voted to support the amendments; however the Government succeeded in overturning them.
The future of town centres
I spoke in a debate on the future of town centres and high streets. I highlighted challenges that the local shops in Hackney face, such as fewer customers and new competition from Westfield in Stratford.
I emphasised the need for action to sustain our local high streets. In Hackney the council is already running events to encourage people to shop locally.
The Hackney Gazette and I have set up an awards scheme to promote local shops and to encourage local shopping. We will be judging next month. More is needed, a combination of private sector investment and local leadership is necessary.
Benefits for terminally ill people
This month I led an adjournment debate in the House of Commons about benefits for terminally ill people.
An adjournment debate lasts half an hour. An MP raises an issue and the minister responds on behalf of the Government.
I called the debate after St Joseph's Hospice, based in Mare Street, alerted me to problems with the administration of benefits for some of its patients
I raised a number of examples where terminally ill people have been called for back-to-work interviews, or worse, been found fit-for-work when they were ill and dying.
This adds enormous stress to terminally-ill patients and their relatives and carers.
I raised in particular my concern that ministers' guidance is not fully understood or is not being followed locally.
The minister was clear that anyone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness should not be called to a work focused interview. He did not acknowledge any major problem with the system but is willing to look into any cases. Please let me know if this has effected you so I can raise any further concerns with the minister.
NHS risk register update
I reported in last month's report about the Government ignoring the Information Commissioner's judgement that the Department of Health should publish its transition risk register relating to the proposed changes to the NHS.
There was a vote in the House of Commons on this issue this month. I voted in favour of publication of the risk register. The Government is against publication and voted not to publish. It won by 53 votes.
Debate on cycling
I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on cycling safety on 23 February.
Many of you have got in touch with me on this issue in response to The Times campaign and I raised some of the issues that effect cyclists in Hackney.
I highlighted the importance of training for cyclists and heavy goods vehicle drivers is equally important. Hackney Council offers free training for both.
Nearly 80 per cent of the lorries that are involved in fatalities are construction vehicles, companies must train their drivers. Last year I saw for myself the dangers to cyclists caused by blind spots when I sat in an HGV cab.
The Times campaign calls for a cycling commissioner. Hackney council already has a dedicated cycle officer.
I also drew attention to businesses in Hackney which promote cycling such as Harry Dobbs Design, which has designed a bike stand called the Y-Stand. This innovative product, designed in Hackney and made in Britain, can not only be found in Hackney but also in New York.
In the past, I championed secure bike parking when it was introduced in Finsbury Park in 2003; it was only the second area in London to do so. There is still not enough bike parking of any sort.
No10 reception for emergency services
Last month I attended a reception held by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street to mark the response of the emergency services to the summer disturbances.
I met one of Hackney's special constables who was injured during the riots.
Events in Syria
I have been shocked at the events taking place in Syria. The international community must work together to stop this, however the lack of agreement at the UN Security Council was disappointing. Russia and China vetoed the latest UN resolution despite it being amended to accommodate their concerns. It's good news that China is changing its position.
The Arab league made the decision to suspend Syria back in November, and have since imposed many economic sanctions including the freezing of Syrian government assets in Arab countries.
The European Union has also taken action through economic sanctions with 11 rounds of sanctions against the regime and an arms embargo.
Despite these positive moves, more must be done to send a clear message to the Syrian government that such repression and violence is unacceptable.
Pay day loans
The increased use of pay day loans over the past few years is worrying as vulnerable people in society can be at risk of falling into debt that they cannot repay.
Consumer focus reviewed the pay day loan market and found that in 2009 1.2 million adults took out a loan and the total borrowed was £1.9 billion.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) also carried out a review of the high cost credit market in 2010 and made a number of recommendations to improve the market for consumers. Furthermore the OFT has been monitoring this market and due to increased consumer determent will be launching a review of its lending guidance which will cover the pay day loans market.
The OFT will also be increasing its scrutiny of applications for consumer credit licences by those wishing to engage with this form of lending.
I hope that the OFT and the Government continue to scrutinise and regulate this market to ensure that lenders operate in the interest of consumers.
London Fashion Week
This month I attended London Fashion Week to watch a show by Hackney-based designer Holly Fulton.
Hackney and the surrounding areas of East London host to many involved in the fashion industry. The London College of Fashion, with its campus based in Hackney.
At London Fashion Week three Hackney based designers showcased their collections, Holly Fulton, Richard Nicoll and James Long.
Holly Fulton is part of the Newgen designer support programme which is run by the British Fashion Council. It supports new designers with financial support and business advice. It celebrated its10th anniversary this year.
It was great to see young Hackney designers showcasing their designs at this global event . To find out more about London Fashion Week, the Newgen project and other projects run by the British Fashion Council click here
Lights, camera, Parliament
The launch of Lights, Camera, Parliament. was on 20 January 2012. The competition, run by Parliament's education service, is asking young people between the ages of 11 and 16 to make a short 3 minute film about a law they would like to make.
The competition links to media studies, English and citizenship and gives young people the opportunity to engage in law making and Parliament. The finalists will present their films to a panel of MPs, Peers and industry professionals. The winner's video will be shown as part of the cultural Olympiad arts in Parliament 2012 project this summer.
I have written to secondary schools in Hackney to encourage them to take part in the competition and look forward to seeing what laws they come up with. The deadline for entries is 26 March 2012, to find out more visit Parliament's education team website and to see previous winning entries click here
Hackney university technical college
Hackney UTC will open on the Shoreditch campus of Hackney Community College in September 2012. It will admit 400 pupils aged 14-19, starting with 100 year 10 pupils in September. It will specialise in digital media and health technologies.
The secretary of state for Education has released capital funding of £3.3m for the project. The new college principal is Annie Blackmore who was previously vice-principal at the Bridge Academy.
Olympics update
Transport during the Olympics is a big issue for Hackney residents and businesses. I met with Transport Secretary, Justine Greening MP, and London transport commissioner Peter Hendy to dicsuss local plans.
As a result I have invited transport chiefs to east Hackney to discuss local concerns during the Games.
Please contact me if you have any issues you want me to raise with transport chiefs about Olympic transport and traffic issues.
The authority that licences heavy goods vehicles is already working with businesses that need deliveries during Games time to see which deliveries can be sent to other depots or branches and which could be delivered out of hours. If out of hours deliveries work (in non residential areas) there is potential to remove a lot of delivery traffic from our streets beyond the Games.
Wherever you live or work please check out the advice for residents and business at www.getaheadofthegames.com. Or follow @GAOTG on twitter where you can receive the latest tips, travel information and advice on how to avoid travel congestion. Travel advice for businesses can also be found at www.london2012.com/traveladviceforbusiness
Radio 1 comes to Hackney
Radio 1's Hackney weekend 2012 will be held on the 23 and 24 June, it is the biggest live music event the BBC has ever staged. The event will be free with 100,000 tickets available and the majority being given to people in east London.
Ahead of the event there will be a month long programme of outreach activity for young people, including an academy that will be open in Hackney which every young person in the area will be invited to attend to take part in a variety of master classes and workshops. These will focus on business, the arts, career development and media skills.To find out more and to apply click here
Hackney Women's dinner
On 6 February I hosted the first Hackney Women's dinner which was sponsored by UBS. The event brought together around 60 young women from schools and colleges around Hackney with women who are successful in their career field.
The event was held to help the young women develop their networking skills as well as inspire them to pursue their ambitions and career goals.
The event was a great success, 40 professional women including Karen Ingala-Smith, chief executive of the Nia project, Clarie Middleton from the Hackney Empire and the Deputy Mayor Karen Alcock attended. Lindsay Johnston from UBS also addressed the young women about planning their careers.
It was great to see so many professional women from different fields of work come out to support and encourage young women. I hope to be able to hold more of these events in the future. I am currently planning a similar event for young men and women and a training workshop.
Please contact me if you would be interested in attending or supporting future events in Hackney.
Apprenticeship Week
This year apprenticeship week was from 6 to 10 February. I joined a meeting of Government ministers with the London third sector to discuss the youth contract. Later in the week I met apprentices and university technical college principal Annie Blackmore at Hackney Community College