May 2011

Budget 2011

The reality of the March budget is beginning to bite. It confirmed that the banks will get a tax cut this year. Families in Hackney will see their child benefit frozen and will pay an average extra £450 in VAT during the year. Next year families earning as little as £26,000 are set to lose their tax credits. This will have a big impact on Hackney households.

The independent budget watchdog says inflation will be higher and the economy will grow more slowly both this year and next. We have already seen Government borrowing increase - more people out of work and on benefits means less tax for Government.

4th carbon budget

The Government finally agreed to sign up to tough carbon reduction targets as recommended by the Committee on Climate Change. The decision commits the UK to reducing carbon emissions by 50% (on 1990 levels) by 2025. Disagreements were rife in Whitehall among Treasury and Business department sceptics.

The budget sets tough new standards for how much we need to reduce the emissions of climate damaging gases. This means we need to press the Government on how it plans to reduce emissions. By investment in greener technologies for high energy using industry, more renewable energy and crucially in the take up of the much vaunted Green Deal which aims to reduce emissions from homes. Around 27 per cent of local emissions are from homes.

The energy bill

The energy bill is about to enter the committee stage in the House of Commons, when individual clauses are discussed in detail by 18 MPs in a committee room.

The world's first legally binding carbon reduction targets were introduced in the Climate Change Act 2008. Reducing our domestic emissions is essential if we are to meet those targets. The bill also needs to tackle fuel poverty, as the Government is abolishing the Warm Front scheme.

In its current form the bill is not fit to deliver energy efficiency improvements on the scale necessary. I have pressed Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to monitor and publish how many homes are made greener each year. I have also pressed him to improve consumer protection and ensure a better deal for private tenants.

The shadow energy and climate change team, which I lead, is working to improve the bill.

Localism bill and betting shops

The Localism bill is about to reach the House of Lords after a full debate and committee stage in the House of Commons.

The bill includes a range of measures to give greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities more control over housing and planning decisions. It also gives the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 126 new powers.

David Lammy, MP for Tottenham proposed an amendment to the Localism Bill to give councils new powers to control the number of betting shops on their high streets.

Our high streets need support to thrive and too many betting shops does not encourage a thriving high street. Hackney has more betting shops than any London borough.

Currently, bookmakers can open in the same premises as a bank and other categories of shop without planning permission. Changing the planning c would ensure any new betting shop would have to apply for planning permission first, giving councils and residents greater local control. The amendment was defeated because the Government voted against it.

House of Lords reform

The Deputy Prime Minister launched a draft bill on House of Lords reform on 18 May.

The proposals are for a House of Lords of 300 members to be 80 per cent elected and 20 per cent appointed. This would result in 240 elected and 60 appointed members, plus 12 Bishops.

The proposed term of office is 15 years and members would be elected by proportional representation.

The draft Bill states that a fully elected chamber would be supported if this is the preferred option after debate in both Houses of Parliament. The reality is that this bill is not likely to be prioritised by the Government over the next four years.

I am concerned that a 15 year term is no more accountable in reality than the current
system. I voted for an elected Lords but party lists can create their own problems.

Libya

When I voted for the no fly zone in Libya I did so hoping that intervention would not be prolonged. The UK's involvement must be strictly within the legal basis of UN Resolution 1973. This is "to ensure the protection of civilians".

I believe that Libya would have a better future without Gaddafi, but the resolution is not about regime change. This is a decision for the Libyan people.

I want the government to protect the Libyan people but it must be careful to work with our allies within the limits of the resolution.

The situation is shifting on a daily basis. Last week there was a statement about the UK sending in helicopters.

This raises concerns that this would be seen as an escalation of activity. This will put British service personnel in greater danger. The Government needs to be clear with the British public about why this is necessary now and the military aims behind this move.

There is real concern that an endgame for Libya remains ill-defined.

Many will worry that the British military commitment should not be open-ended, and so we need to hear more from Ministers on their political strategy to achieve the objectives of UN resolution 1973.

Women and pensions

On 18 May the House of Commons debated the pensions bill. The bill will increase the speed at which the pension age rises.

Age UK are leading a campaign against the change as the impact will particularly disadvantage some women.

The women most affected are those aged between 57 and 60. There are 800 women in this age group in Hackney. A woman born on or before 5 April 1953 will reach the state pension age at 62, but those born on 6 April 1953 will retire at 65.

The women who will have to wait two years stand to lose £10,000 in pension income and up to £15,000 if they would be in receipt of pension credit. Women who have planned for their retirement could not have expected the change in retirement age.

There is not time for the women affected to make financial plans to make up for the one to two years loss in pension income.

Cycling and road safety

In a 10 minute rule bill on 18 May Sir Alan Beith MP raised the danger to cyclists caused by drivers' blind spots in heavy goods vehicles. He calls for a law to require equipment to be fitted to eliminate blind spots.

This is a real problem for cyclists in London. Recent deaths of Hackney cyclists underline the need for action. For more information contact the London Cycling Campaign.

Website to report hate crime launched

The police have launched a new way for victims of hate crime to report the crime online. The website, True Vision, is supported by all forces in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland and can be accessed at www.report-it.org.uk.
The recent example of homophobic hate stickers in and around Shoreditch is a reminder of the reality of the issue. I hope the website will help increase the reporting of hate crime particularly by those who do not wish to talk directly to the police.
English language cuts
From August 2011 the Government is restricting free English language courses for people who are on benefits because they are actively seeking work (in technical terms, people who are getting either Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance). Everyone else will have to pay £2.91 per hour to the cost of their course. For a full time course, this will be a minimum of £1300 for a year.

Hackney Community college has over 800 ESOL learners each year, more than 70 per cent of whom are on non-active benefits. Most are women who will not attend courses if they have to pay.

This will make integration harder and will impact on their children’s achievement in schools. Most countries with migrants make it compulsory for non-native speakers to attend free language courses. The Prime Minister talks about integration but the Government is making it harder to learn English.

Make London 2012 'sweat-free'

Campaigners from Playfair 2012 - a coalition of unions and campaigning groups - held a day-long protest in Westminster to lobby members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Trades Union Congress General Secretary Brendan Barber urged IOC members to ensure that all workplaces in the Olympic and sportswear supply chains are free from poverty wages, insecure employment and excessive hours, and that the workers are allowed to join unions.

The campaigners want the IOC to include a clause in the Olympic charter ensuring that all companies Olympic branded products do not exploit their workforce.
The campaign is keen to ensure that London 2012 becomes the first Olympic Games where the sportswear and merchandise has been produced in factories which treat their workers well.

Obama at Westminster Hall

I was privileged to be in the audience when President Barack Obama addressed MPs and Lords at Westminster Hall on
23 May.

This was the first time a US president has addressed both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, which is the oldest and most historic part of the Houses of Parliament.

President Obama made a powerful speech which set out his view of what the special relationship with the UK means today.

Fairer fillings

On 18 May I joined in the RSPCA’s campaign to promote fairer fillings in sandwiches. This highlighted the RSPCA freedom food logo which tells us that ingredients in a ready meal are ethically sourced. Each year we eat in excess of 11.5 billion sandwiches.

Buying a sandwich with a ‘fairer filling’ can be a challenge; the freedom food logo helps us know what we are eating.
Hackney Issues

Paralympic Games

The London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) has published its prices for Paralympic Games tickets, with more than half of the two million tickets available priced at £10 or less. Tickets for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies start at £20.12.

Wheelchair spaces will be available in all price categories for every Paralympic sport, and the price of these tickets will include a companion seat next to it.

Applicants who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, visually impaired people or people with limited mobility can indicate additional requirements.

Any successful ticket applicant with high dependency care needs can apply for an additional ticket for their carer.
The Paralympic Games takes place between 29 August and 9 September 2012, with 20 sports taking place at 19 venues. Tickets go on sale on the 2012 website from 9 September 2011, with applications accepted until 30 September.

Adult social care in Hackney

Hackney Council is working with the NHS and local organisations to give people more choice and control over their social care.
Residents who are eligible can have a personal budget, given to them by the council to spend on services that meet their needs and aspirations.
Everyone can have a community care assessment for a personal budget. If the assessment shows you meet the fair access to care services eligibility criteria, you can have a personal budget. If you don't meet the criteria you have access to a range of local services to help you.
There are different ways to take up the personal budget depending on the amount of responsibility you want. You could have a direct payment and manage the money yourself, or use the council to manage it. You will need to keep records of how you spend a direct payment.
Personal budgets are not benefits - other benefits you receive do not affect your budget.
For more information or to request a care assessment contact the adult social care team Tel: 0208 356 6133.

Green council housing

I recently visited Bridport house on Colville Estate. This post war estate is scoring two firsts: it is the first new council owned housing to be built in Hackney for decades and it is being rebuilt to meet today's higher standards for more energy-efficient homes.

It has the distinction of being the tallest wooden built structure in Europe and has hosted a number of overseas visitors.

It is constructed of wood which is steam pressed in layers so that it is dense and strong. The resulting homes are well insulated and have solar panels on the roof for green, cheap electricity for residents.

All homes have been built 10 per cent bigger than the post war Parker Morris standard, which has long been a benchmark for reasonably sized homes.

Hackney torch bearer

Hackney's MPs have the chance to nominate Hackney's Olympic torch bearers. Nationally 8,000 citizens will get the chance to carry the coveted Olympic torch on its tour of Britain

I have been asked to nominate someone from my constituency and have teamed up with Diane Abbott and the Hackney Gazette to invite constituents and residents to help us make our nominations.

It is a huge task and it seems only right that Hackney residents should have their say.

If you know anyone who deserves such an honour write to me telling me their story in 150 words and saying why I should nominate them, with their name and contact details.