A Busy Friday
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:51, Fri 27 March 2009:
REAL HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE
Last week’s unemployment figures revealed the human impact of the global recession. Job losses are devastating for individuals and families, and that is why the Government is working hard to provide support in these difficult times. We have invested £2bn already to make sure people get the help they need and to recruit 6,000 more staff in Jobcentre Plus. Most people who lose their jobs still find work quickly, but the longer a person is out of work, the more will be done to help:
o When redundancies are threatened the Government provides advice and signpost skills support through its Rapid Response service. o From day one of unemployment people are offered a guarantee of financial support, and employment and skills advice. o The Government introduced protection so that losing your job doesn’t mean losing your pension. o And mortgage support is now being offered earlier so that losing your job need not mean losing your home.
A BUSY FRIDAY
When Parliament is sitting, I have to be in London from Monday lunchtime until Thursday evening. This means that I try to spend my Fridays out and about in Bristol South meeting with residents and organisations. Today was no different. This morning, I joined Cllr Helen Holland at a question and answer session for volunteers in Knowle and Hartcliffe. I then popped into see Avon Fire Service, who were putting on an event at the @Symes community centre to encourage fire safety. Simple steps like installing smoke alarms can be the difference between life and death. There’s much more information about how to stay safe at www.avonfire.gov.uk. This afternoon, I was delighted to be asked to officially open the new play equipment at St Mary Redcliffe Primary School. The Friends of St Mary Redcliffe raised £9,000 for these fantastic facilities, which focuses on a natural woodland theme to let the children build dens. Before sending off this week’s News from Westminster, I held my regular surgery, and managed to catch up with some letters and emails I have received from residents about a wide range of issues.
EXTRA SUPPORT FOR BLIND PEOPLE
New proposals mean that blind people will be entitled to receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance if the Welfare Reform Bill becomes law. I had previously raised this matter with my ministerial colleagues in Department for Work and Pensions and I know they worked hard to ensure that extra funding was made available so that this important change could be made. The new plans will support around 20,000 visibly impaired people with their additional mobility costs, allowing them greater freedom to get out and about either socially or to find work. At current rates this will mean an additional payment worth £29 a week to those who qualify (£1,508 per year).
BREAKFAST 4 LIFE
Last Wednesday I was delighted to join pupils at Ashton Gate Primary School for a healthy breakfast to promote Change4Life in the South West. As mentioned in my January news update, Change4Life is a about all of us making changes to our lifestyles to eat more healthily and be more active. Ashton Gate’s well attended Breakfast Club is an excellent example of how we can help children guard against obesity by ensuring they get a healthy meal to start each day. There are plenty of tasty and healthy choices available and pupils learn about nutrition while the choosing and preparing their food.
CASUALTY RELOCATION
I was very disappointed to learn that the BBC is ploughing ahead with their decision to move the production of Casualty to Cardiff, in the face of enormous opposition. Casualty has been in Bristol for over twenty years, and Bristolians can frequently spot the crew filming in our city. The programme also contributes to our local economy, and builds on Bristol’s reputation as an important centre for television programme. Along with other Bristol MPs, I have lobbied the BBC about their proposals, and it is a shame that they have decided to proceed regardless. The BBC plan to move production in two years, so I will be contacting trade unions to see if there is anything we can do, even at this stage, to encourage a change of heart.
GREEN ENERGY GRANTS
Finally, I wanted to raise awareness of some renewable energy grant opportunities for non-profit making or charitable organisations. The EDF Energy Green Fund offers grants of up to £30,000 for renewable energy installations or feasibility studies for community buildings such as schools, community centres and churches. For more information about how to bid for this funding, please visit the following page of the EDF website: www.edfenergy.com/greenfund.
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER - 13 MARCH
I am sorry that, due to a technical error, my last newsletter was not sent to subscribers of Hear From Your MP. You can read it on my website at www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk
ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any queries about these issues, or have a question you would like to ask about anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Just email Primarolod@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH. Alternatively, for more information on what’s happening in and around Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.
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Posted by Pete Ferguson, 12:17, Mon 30 March 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
REAL HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE
It was this Government that helped to create these "difficult times" But of course Brown had nothing to do with it, did he?
Gordon Brown's 2007 speech to bankers at a Mansion House banquet: "What you as the City of London have achieved for financial services, we as a government now aspire to achieve for the whole economy."