March 2012 Report

The Budget

In the Budget debate on the 21 March I spoke about the variety and nature of businesses in Hackney, and how many of them are currently struggling to expand.

Hackney has many small businesses; more than 90 per cent employ fewer than six people. Many businesses in the area, particularly those based in Shoreditch, are part of the creative industries sector and leading in innovation. The tech city hub, employs 39,000 people in high tech and digital companies, Hackney also hosts a growing fashion industry. These businesses are a major part of the national economy with fashion alone generating around £20bn a year. We need to see more local people working here.

However many businesses are struggling to expand. They are not getting support from the banks. Some businesses are simply seeking an overdraft facility so an interest rate cut on business loans makes no difference to them.

I also pressed the Chancellor on whether he is exploring innovative ways of providing working capital, such as the next generation funding models. The Chancellor has announced seven short-listed funds, and although this is a positive step, I worry they will fail to support the creative businesses I am talking about.
Read my full speech and budget debate here

Legal aid, sentencing and punishment of offenders' bill

As many of you may know the Legal Aid bill has gone to the House of Lords to be amended. There were 11 amendments made. The bill will return to the House of Commons after the Easter recess and my colleagues and I will continue to oppose the bill and its effects on legal aid.

Health and social care bill

The health and social care bill returned from the House of Lords to be debated in the Commons on 20 March.

The Government is still refusing to release the NHS risk register. This outlines the risks of the Government's proposed, despite a ruling by the information commissioner tribunal that it should be released.

My colleagues and I have also continuously pressed for the release of the register and I believe it is important that this document is released so that we know the full implications of the bill.

Energy bills

Soaring energy bills continue to affect millions of people. It is essential that we see reform of the energy market, something which I campaigned for as Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

The big switch campaign encourages customers to shop around for a cheaper supplier. The latest Government announcement that every major energy company will be required to advise on the best tariff is good as far as it goes.

In Hackney many of the customers in greatest need do not qualify for discounts on-line or by direct debit. A lot of households prefer prepay meters because of fears over an unexpectedly large bill.

More information is no panacea for the structural problems of high energy prices and, in many cases, homes that are energy inefficient. Consumer initiatives are good but the Government has a role to look at wider strategic policy. The Government's energy policy is in disarray with a number of backbenchers vocally opposing greener energy, nuclear partners dropping out and energy bills rising.
The Government needs to get a grip.

Living standards

On 5 March I spoke in a debate about people's living standards I raised a number of particular issues which affect Hackney residents.

The cost of childcare, the removal of the education maintenance allowance for teenagers and the changes to the eligibility requirements for working tax credits are all big issues locally.

One in five of Hackney residents are under-16. I believe that all young people need the best start in life regardless of where they live and that means decent child-care provision in boroughs like Hackney.

The removal of EMA has also had a particularly big impact on young people in Hackney. As I told MPs who may represent more affluent constituents, young adult learners in Hackney used their EMA for basics such as paying the family electricity for the end of the week.

To be eligible for working tax credits families now need to work at least 24 hours a week - up from 16 hours.

Tax credit is a policy that people repeatedly tell me about when I'm on the doorstep. For many it is a lifeline. Finding eight hours of additional work is just not possible for many.

Government ministers blithely cite job vacancy figures but just do not get it. Many people want to work longer hours but their existing employer cannot provide them. Child-care and travel costs are among the barriers to seeking a new job - of which there are too few anyway.

Rock the House and film the House

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade runs Rock the House an annual competition for aspiring unsigned rock bands. I am delighted to have nominated the Liam Tarpey band. Two of the three band members live in Shoreditch. Rock the House is supported by artists including Ian Gillan and Alice Cooper. Prizes for winning entrants include opportunities for live performances at the House of Commons and other venues and festivals.

Film the House has just been launched for young film-makers. Successful entrants will win a screening to film industry executives at the House of Commons.

If you are an aspiring Andrea Arnold or budding David Puttnam email me using the contact form on this website. For more information go to www.filmthehouse.com.

Deadline for nominations is 30 June 2012.

Anti-social behaviour orders

I have been pressing the Government about the abolition of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) and replacement with gang injunctions.

Gang injunctions may become a useful tool for dealing with anti-social behaviour relating to gangs. I am concerned that they do not tackle more general anti-social behaviour where there is no gang involvement.

Already we are seeing gang injunctions being watered down by defence lawyers. A gang injunction can be imposed after a gang member has committed a crime and includes positive measures such as requiring attendance at college alongside sanctions.

Some lawyers are arguing against the positive elements which means they effectively become negative conditions of parole and not a combined public safety and rehabilitation tool.

Police officers, courts and community safety teams need all the necessary tools to deal with anti-social behaviour and gangs. ASBOs are a useful tool which can help prevent crime. Both have their place and I continue to put pressure on the Government to keep ASBOs.

Charging for tours of Big Ben

The House of Commons authorities recently proposed a £15 charge for climbing the Big Ben clock tower.

Every year many Hackney residents enjoy visiting Parliament and Big Ben. I disagreed with a charge to visit the Parliament for British voters.

After a debate in the House of Commons on the 15 March the House authorities backtracked and tours remain free of charge. If you would like to go on a tour of Big Ben, Parliament or watch a debate in the House of Commons please get in touch. Big Ben tours need to be booked well ahead. Prime Minister's question time tickets have a long waiting list.

The Speaker's school council awards

I am always impressed by the work of school councils when I visit schools.

The Speaker's School Council Awards is a national awards scheme designed to celebrate school councils.

School councils nominate their most successful project and all entrants receive a certificate from the Speaker of the House of Commons for taking part.

Four winning schools will be invited to Parliament for the day where they will receive a trophy from the Speaker and celebrate their win.

To find out more and to enter, visit speakersschoolcouncilawards.

The Diamond Jubilee window

As part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee MPs and members of the House of Lords funded the creation and installation of a new stained glass window. The window was designed and made by British artist John Reyntiens and was presented to the Queen on the 20 March when she addressed Parliament.

The window will remain on display in Westminster Hall and will eventually be installed when restoration work begins later this year. If you are on a parliamentary tour you will see the window.

Leytonstone football club memorial

I am a trustee of the War Memorials Trust. One of the things the Trust campaigns for is to find appropriate sites for war memorials which have been kept in storage. One of these was the memorial to railwaymen who died in the Great War relocated to Hoxton station. I worked with local churches to hold a remembrance service there last November.

Another East London war memorial has been saved. In May 2011 the Trust saw an advert to sell Leytonstone football club's war memorial. The successor club to Leytonstone is the Dagenham and Redbridge football club, whose chairman used to play for Leytonstone. The club still has strong military links today and has agreed to find the memorial a new home.

Riots Communities and Victims Panel final report

Much of the final report of the panel into the causes of the riots was thoughtful and it identified a group of young people who do not get the best start in life.

In Hackney rioters were mostly older but there are young people in our borough in real need of support.

Some of the recommendations - such as fining schools - seem counterproductive.

We await Government's response to the report. This is just the beginning of work but the Government can learn a lot from Hackney. To read the executive summary of the report visit their website here

Olympic torch bearer

Congratulations to Hackney's Takeshi Bailey, a youth worker on Wilton Estate, who I nominated to carry the Olympic torch when it comes to Hackney in July. His bid was successful.

Olympic host boroughs swimming gala

Along with local school children and councillors I got a sneak preview of the Olympics aquatics centre when six mixed aged teams of para and able-bodied swimmers swam in the Olympic pool.

The main pool is magnificent. There is also a full size warm up pool, a diving pool and top class changing facilities. In a hard fight between Waltham Forest and Greenwich, Hackney lost out but congratulations to the team who mostly train at Clissold swimming club. Cllr Jonathan McShane and I discussed how to boost Hackney's competitive swimming and he is working on this.

The centre will be open to the general public from 2014. The additional seating for the Olympic Games has to be removed, as this is being reused it will take nearly 18 months to dismantle.

Songs from the howling sea

In celebration of London's Olympic year singer/songwriter Ruairidh Anderson has been writing songs about the five Olympic boroughs. All his songs are based on historical characters and tales of London's east end, over the next few months he will be focusing on Hackney.

To find out more and hear the music visit their website here.

Mare Street shop awards

The Hackney Gazette and I launched this award scheme before Christmas to help boost local shops.

In March Gazette editor Malcolm Starbrook and I visited all the nominated shops to judge the winners: best shopfront, best window display, most accessible shop and the shop with the friendliest and most helpful staff.

Malcolm and I were both very impressed by the service we received from Hackney's independent shops. For this category it was difficult to pick a winner.

Thanks to everyone who nominated their favourite shops. The winners will be announced in the Gazette in May.

New Hackney borough commander

I recently met Matt Horne who will start his new job as Hackney's borough commander on 10 April.

I raised some of the issues of concern in Hackney particularly about stop and search methods. The borough commander has agreed to attend some listening events in Hackney which I will be organising during May and June.

If you have been stopped by a police officer and are unhappy about how the office conducted the search and if you are a parent whose son or daughter has been stopped I'm particularly keen to hear your direct experiences.

New Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe has pledged a review of wider policy on stop and search.

In the meantime if you have concerns about the police please do report it. Locally five officers have been sacked because of the wrong approach.

The police need concrete information to take action. I am happy to pass information on if you do not wish to complain directly.

Young people's careers network

Work continues on this which aims to help local students aged 16+ to secure high level work placements.
If you are interested in offering a short or longer placement to a student please get in touch.