June 2009 report

Parliamentary Business

Parliamentary standards bill

The Government has introduced a bill to create an independent body to regulate the Parliamentary expenses system without requiring Parliamentary approval.

The new independent parliamentary standards authority will be responsible for preparing and enforcing the rules. The expenses system, rules and reports of investigations will be made public along with all claims.

It will require repayment from those who have received allowances they were not entitled to and make a criminal offence of knowingly providing false information in a claim; failing to comply with the rules on registration and breaching the rules which prohibit paid advocacy.

It is intended that the bill be completed before summer recess.

Marine and coastal access bill

The marine and coastal access bill had its second reading in the House on 23 June.

The bill addresses the protection of marine environments, public access to coastal areas and marine industries.

The bill legislates for the creation of a long distance public route around the coast of England. It also introduces marine conservation zones to protect rare and valued marine species and habitats. It will create a new UK-wide system for marine planning and a streamlined system for licensing marine developments in order to maximise opportunities to harness wind and wave power.

The bill creates a new marine management organisation to have oversight of planning, licensing, conservation and enforcement – simplifying and joining together current systems.

Policing and crime bill

The policing and crime bill had its final reading in the House before completion on 19 May.

The bill aims to increase the effectiveness and public accountability of the police, reduce crime and enhance airport security. The bill is targeted at tackling crime and disorder in communities and protecting vulnerable members of our communities.

The Government introduced a number of amendments at report stage. These include an amendment to safeguard against abuse of the reclassification of lap-dancing clubs (which requires them to obtain a sex establishment licence in order to operate). The exemption in the bill which allows venues to provide such entertainment infrequently without requiring a sex encounter venue licence can now be withdrawn if local communities feel it is being used too frequently or abused.

The bill also includes measures to help the police tackle underage drinking in public and requires greater responsibility from alcohol retailers.

The bill is now being read in the Lords.

This summer sixty-nine youth crime priority areas, which include Hackney, will receive extra funding to help tackle teenage binge drinking during the summer holidays. This is in response to feedback from police and youth services who say alcohol is a major influence in youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

Other matters

Climate change - Copenhagen summit

In December this year, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to decide on a crucial agreement on climate change.

In advance of this, the Government has published "The Road to Copenhagen", a document setting out what the Government will be arguing for at the summit. It is the first time the Government has published its position in advance of talks. The plans will be sent to schools, libraries and citizen advice centres.

The Government will be pushing for a deal on finance, technology, forestry and reform of international institutions. The plans aim for a deal that will ensure agreements are effective and fair, keeping countries to their word and ensuring finances go where they are most needed, and supporting the poorest countries to cut their emissions.

Visit www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk for more information and send us your views on the deal so we can pass these directly to the Secretary of State for Climate Change, Ed Miliband in advance of talks.

Building Britain's Future

At the end of June the Prime Minister launched Building Britain's Future, a strategy for reforming public service, modernising the national infrastructure and taking Britain out of recession, creating the right conditions for future economic success.

The strategy includes giving patients enforceable rights to the best healthcare including hospital treatment within 18 weeks, access to a cancer specialist within 2 weeks and free health checks for people aged 40-74.

It sets out proposals to give parents a guarantee of an individually tailored education for their child including a personal tutor for every secondary school pupil. It also looks at creating opportunities for young people to access positive activities and aims to have every young person giving at least 50 hours of service to their community.

The strategy also sets out priorities in foreign policy, focusing on three key areas: reforming international finance institutions and fighting global poverty, securing agreement in Copenhagen on a global climate change deal and pushing for progress on multilateral disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.

For more information and for details of all the proposals in Building Britain's Future visit www.hmg.gov.uk/buildingbritainsfuture.aspx

Housing

The Prime Minister has announced a £1.5 billion investment for new housing with construction due to start in the next few months.

The new builds will provide an additional 20,000 affordable and energy efficient homes on top of existing housing commitments and create 45,000 new jobs in construction and related industries.

The funds will also go to help stalled housing projects get back on track.

Reforms to the way social housing is allocated will be published later this year which will give councils room to prioritise local people who have spent a long time on the waiting list. The current preferential rules for those in most need will not change. There will also be tougher measures to prevent people cheating the system by sub-letting. Councils will also be able to keep all the proceeds from council house sales and council rents.

Help for consumers

The Government has published a white paper with proposals for giving consumers a better deal.

The white paper sets out plans to protect consumers from firms who trade unfairly, regulate credit cards and credit repayment and ban unsolicited credit card cheques. The proposals seek to make the consumer credit market work better for consumers and looks into practices such as raising rates on existing debt and low minimum payments that extend the life of the debt.

A self help tool-kit will be launched in the next few months to support people in difficulty with debt.

The paper will also introduce new checks on creditworthiness and a requirement on firms to properly explain their credit products.

The paper also addresses tackling e-crime and protecting consumers who use the internet for shopping.

A new consumer rights bill will be brought forward to implement the EU consumer rights directive and to simplify UK consumer sales law.

Help for homeowners

Housing minister, John Healey has announced further help for families facing repossession. Funding for free legal advice and representation through court desks has been doubled for anyone facing repossession or eviction hearings.

Other help is available through the Government funded homeowners mortgage support scheme and mortgage rescue scheme and a £20 million funded loan scheme through the local council.

For further information visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Keepingyourhomeevictionsandhomelessness/Mortgagesandrepossessions/DG_177639
and
www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Keepingyourhomeevictionsandhomelessness/LosingYourHome/DG_174005

Review of dental services

The Government commissioned review of the NHS dental service has reported its findings and recommendations for improving dental services.

From this autumn, selected dental surgeries will be piloting some of the recommendations. These include measures to link a dentist's income to the number of patients registered with them; support for advising patients on preventative care and making it easier to register with a dentist.

Green buses

The Government has announced a new £30 million fund to expand the use of low-carbon buses.

Low carbon buses reduce carbon emissions by 30-40 per cent and use at least 30 per cent less fuel.

The fund will help with the cost of hybrid buses, providing grants for bus operators and local authorities to help with the additional costs of buying a low carbon bus.

Car scrappage scheme

Thirty-eight car manufacturers are taking part in the Government's car scrappage scheme announced in the budget.

Customers can now get a £2,000 discount on a new car when they hand in their old one (registered before 31 August 1999 - 'T' plate or older). The £2,000 is made up of half Government funding matched by manufacturers. The scheme is intended to help the motor industry in the current economic situation.

The scheme is available until March 2010 or when the funding runs out. It applies to cars and vans below 3.5 tonnes and black cabs are eligible.

Approximately 85 per cent of a scrapped car is recycled.

Fairtrade cosmetics

From 24 June the first Fairtrade cosmetics will be available in the UK.

Fifty-seven products with certified Fairtrade ingredients will be available through major outlets. The Fairtrade Foundation sets the minimum threshold of Fairtrade ingredients.

Producers will, as with all Fairtrade products, get a fair price on the products plus a premium to invest in community projects such as healthcare and schools.

Over 4,500 fairtrade products are now available from coffee to cotton wool.

For more information visit www.fairtrade.org.uk

Hackney issues

Murray Grove Post Office

The Shoreditch Trust is currently looking at potential ways to reopen Murray Grove Post Office and they want to hear from local residents.

They have launched a consultation for local residents to find out what they need from the service. If you live in the area and want to contribute to the survey or are a member of a community group and would like to arrange a meeting with a community interviewer, call the Shoreditch Trust on 020 7033 8521.

Olympics update

London 2012 open weekend

The London 2012 open weekend will take place on the weekend of 24-26 July with a series of events around the country.

All events will be published at www.london2012.com/openweekend nearer the time.

Non-commercial cultural, sporting, voluntary, youth or educational organisations interested in being part of London2012 Open Weekend can register online at www.london2012.com/get-involved/open-weekend/registration-form.php

Affordable homes

Olympics minister Tessa Jowell has confirmed go-ahead of the affordable homes scheme for the athletes' village after the Games.

The village will create 2,800 homes after the Games, 1,379 of which will be available as affordable housing with Triathlon Homes (a joint venture with Southern Housing Group and East Thames Group housing associations).

Regulation of trading and advertising

Advanced notice has been published of the temporary controls of advertising and street trading which will be in place around the Olympic site during the Games.

During the Games certain types of advertising and trading will be prohibited in order to prevent unauthorised trading. The regulations will specify the types of advertising and trading that will be affected which are likely to include newer forms of promotion such as give-aways and aerial advertising as well as billboards and posters. Regular trading in buildings and normal shop signs and window displays will be exempt.

Details of which areas will be affected can be found on the London2012 website www.london2012.com

The regulations are currently being developed as set out in the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 and a consultation document on the policies will be published in 2010.

Further information on the draft proposals can be found at www.london2012.com.

Olympic trees

2000 semi-mature trees have been chosen for planting in the Olympic Park. The trees, due to be planted over the coming winters are native species such as ash, willow, birch, poplar and London plane.