MPs Diary
Government out of touch
The British recovery has been stalling since the Government’s spending review of 2010, but last week’s growth figures revealed that the economy has now gone into reverse. This is a damning indictment of David Cameron and George Osborne’s failed economic plan. Families, pensioners and businesses know it is hurting – but the evidence is now overwhelming that on jobs, growth and the deficit, it’s just not working.
Labour has constantly argued that cutting spending too far and too fast would choke off the recovery. But it’s not too late for this out of touch Government to change course and get a plan for jobs and growth. We are stepping up our campaign on our 5 point plan in the coming weeks and I will be continuing the campaign I began before Christmas with street stalls in the main towns.
Our Labour colleagues in the Lords have continued to harry and defeat the Government’s welfare bill. It comes back to the Commons this week where of course the coalition have a majority to get it through but not without an almighty row. We will continue to argue that the Government’s reforms are so badly thought through that they could significantly increase homelessness and so end up actually costing the taxpayer more.
Mary Portas Report on High Streets
I have contacted South Ayrshire Council for clarification on their plans for town centre regeneration in the light of the much talked about Mary Portas Report on High Streets. While most of the recommendations apply to England, the problems exist the length and breadth of the UK, and the report provides food for thought for the Scottish Government and local authorities. I was also pleased to see that the Scottish Chambers of Commerce are establishing an expert group of business leaders to generate practical solutions to improve our communities, recognising the important role that local businesses play in creating active and vibrant high streets.
Off Grid Energy Supply
I am concerned about difficulties being experienced by people in rural communities who rely on off grid energy supplies. I have heard stories of prices changing between quote and delivery of supplies and of suppliers refusing to give a quote unless an order is placed. I believe the Government should hold a formal investigation into Off Grid Energy Supply arrangements and I have been active in setting up an All Party Group which will push for such an investigation.
Children in Poverty
I am calling for the Government to take action over rising energy prices following new evidence from Save the Children showing that children’s health and wellbeing is being put at risk by rapidly rising energy prices. Save the Children’s latest report shows that 45% of parents living in severe poverty are cutting back on food in order to pay their winter energy bills. Almost a third of all parents on lowest incomes have said they won’t be able to afford these bills even if they cut back on other essentials. I am calling on the Government and the Energy Companies to take urgent action to deal with this scandal. Around the same time, The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report on poverty and income showing that families with children are being hit more than four times harder than the average household. So much for David Cameron’s ‘Family Friendly Government’
Legal Loan Sharking
The issue of scandalous rates of interest charged by some loan companies has been the subject of recent discussion in Parliament. I am also aware from my constituency caseload that some people have ended up paying extortionate rates of interest from these ‘legal’ personal loan companies that are so prevalent at present. I recently signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament highlighting one particularly bad example of a loan company setting an absolutely scandalous rate of interest and calling for Government to restrict the level of interest that can be charged. The company concerned – wonga.com – has a typical interest rate of 4,214% and they are far from alone in what frankly amounts to legal loan sharking.
Robert Burns Humanitarian Award
On a much happier note, I was delighted to attend the 11th Annual Robert Burns Humanitarian Award Ceremony last week in the new Burns Museum at Alloway. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Karen Graham, who worked through the battle of Tripoli in Libya to provide the highest possible medical care to those on both sides of the conflict. Other worthy finalists were Samantha Perkins of Medecins sans Frontieres, who provided midwifery and maternity services to women in the very unstable area of eastern Congo and the Deaf History Review Editorial Team helping to make sure that the views of deaf people worldwide are made known. The shortlisted finalists were all great ambassadors for Burn’s sentiment of ‘humankindness’.
Government out of touch
The British recovery has been stalling since the Government’s spending review of 2010, but last week’s growth figures revealed that the economy has now gone into reverse. This is a damning indictment of David Cameron and George Osborne’s failed economic plan. Families, pensioners and businesses know it is hurting – but the evidence is now overwhelming that on jobs, growth and the deficit, it’s just not working.
Labour has constantly argued that cutting spending too far and too fast would choke off the recovery. But it’s not too late for this out of touch Government to change course and get a plan for jobs and growth. We are stepping up our campaign on our 5 point plan in the coming weeks and I will be continuing the campaign I began before Christmas with street stalls in the main towns.
Our Labour colleagues in the Lords have continued to harry and defeat the Government’s welfare bill. It comes back to the Commons this week where of course the coalition have a majority to get it through but not without an almighty row. We will continue to argue that the Government’s reforms are so badly thought through that they could significantly increase homelessness and so end up actually costing the taxpayer more.
Mary Portas Report on High Streets
I have contacted South Ayrshire Council for clarification on their plans for town centre regeneration in the light of the much talked about Mary Portas Report on High Streets. While most of the recommendations apply to England, the problems exist the length and breadth of the UK, and the report provides food for thought for the Scottish Government and local authorities. I was also pleased to see that the Scottish Chambers of Commerce are establishing an expert group of business leaders to generate practical solutions to improve our communities, recognising the important role that local businesses play in creating active and vibrant high streets.
Off Grid Energy Supply
I am concerned about difficulties being experienced by people in rural communities who rely on off grid energy supplies. I have heard stories of prices changing between quote and delivery of supplies and of suppliers refusing to give a quote unless an order is placed. I believe the Government should hold a formal investigation into Off Grid Energy Supply arrangements and I have been active in setting up an All Party Group which will push for such an investigation.
Children in Poverty
I am calling for the Government to take action over rising energy prices following new evidence from Save the Children showing that children’s health and wellbeing is being put at risk by rapidly rising energy prices. Save the Children’s latest report shows that 45% of parents living in severe poverty are cutting back on food in order to pay their winter energy bills. Almost a third of all parents on lowest incomes have said they won’t be able to afford these bills even if they cut back on other essentials. I am calling on the Government and the Energy Companies to take urgent action to deal with this scandal. Around the same time, The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report on poverty and income showing that families with children are being hit more than four times harder than the average household. So much for David Cameron’s ‘Family Friendly Government’
Legal Loan Sharking
The issue of scandalous rates of interest charged by some loan companies has been the subject of recent discussion in Parliament. I am also aware from my constituency caseload that some people have ended up paying extortionate rates of interest from these ‘legal’ personal loan companies that are so prevalent at present. I recently signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament highlighting one particularly bad example of a loan company setting an absolutely scandalous rate of interest and calling for Government to restrict the level of interest that can be charged. The company concerned – wonga.com – has a typical interest rate of 4,214% and they are far from alone in what frankly amounts to legal loan sharking.
Robert Burns Humanitarian Award
On a much happier note, I was delighted to attend the 11th Annual Robert Burns Humanitarian Award Ceremony last week in the new Burns Museum at Alloway. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Karen Graham, who worked through the battle of Tripoli in Libya to provide the highest possible medical care to those on both sides of the conflict. Other worthy finalists were Samantha Perkins of Medecins sans Frontieres, who provided midwifery and maternity services to women in the very unstable area of eastern Congo and the Deaf History Review Editorial Team helping to make sure that the views of deaf people worldwide are made known. The shortlisted finalists were all great ambassadors for Burn’s sentiment of ‘humankindness’.