Archive for the ‘Westminster News’ Category

Before the end of the Parliamentary session local Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green was elected the Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on retail.

Kate said: “I’ve been pleased to have been elected to the Vice Chair of the All-Party group on retail. Retail makes a big contribution to our local economy; the Trafford Centre’s a major retail hub, and many jobs depend on it. But I also want to work with retailers to improve our town centres in Stretford, Old Trafford, Partington and Urmston. And the decision that the Old Trafford Tesco is to go ahead will also have a major impact and I want to make sure we get the most for local people and businesses.”

Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston Kate Green has today condemned the Tory-Lib Dem decision to scrap the North West Regional Development Agency.

Regional Development Agencies were set up to champion our regions and work to bring inward investment and jobs to the regions outside London. The North West Regional Development Agency has a proven track record of supporting the North West economy, with every £1 invested creating £4.50 in the wider economy.

The NWDA is well regarded amongst Trafford businesses and has helped lever over £8 million finance and investment – including £6 million this year – into our area and support the creation and safeguarding of thousands of jobs.

Kate said: “Scrapping the NWDA is a complete nonsense and shows this Government’s double-dealings once again. When Vince Cable visited the NWDA recently he promised not to scrap successful agencies. Now he’s turning his back on NW business and getting rid of our development agency which has supported local jobs and businesses such as the Imperial War Museum North promenade project and the SAICA paper mill project in Partington which will create hundreds of jobs locally.

The NWDA has done a good job for local people over the past decade. I’m concerned that this decision will further damage the recovery here and cost more jobs and livelihoods. Let’s remember that this agency has 480 people working for it who will be put out of work by this decision on top of the knock-on effect of jobs lost in the private sector as a result of this decision. When the Government axes bodies like the NWDA it has repercussions on staff and their families as well as in our communities here.”

The Government has said that the NWDA will be scrapped in 2011 and replaced by local economic partnerships – although the details of how these will operate are sketchy and it’s questionable that these will have the same leverage and strategic view of the North West which RDAs have.

Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green this week challenged David Cameron at Prime Ministers Questions on cuts to Jobcentre plus staff. Speaking for the first time in PMQs Kate asked the Prime Minister how Tory-Lib Dem plans to cut the equivalent of 4000 fulltime jobs in jobcentres by next March made sense when secret figures prepared in the Treasury show that over 1.2 million people could lose their jobs due to the Government’s budget plans.

Kate said: “Jobcentre plus in Stretford and Urmston deals with hundreds of claims every month from workless people, and the secret figures from the Treasury show that this number is set to increase. I’ve lost count of the number of local people who’ve told me the government’s top priority in the recession should be to help people get back to work. That’s why I challenged the PM about these cuts which mean less support for local people looking for work. But his answer shows he doesn’t care about frontline services for the unemployed. Last month the government announced they were axing the Future Jobs Fund that helped young people get training, work experience or a job. Now cuts in support for jobseekers could mean losing up to 10% of the frontline advisers in jobcentres that serve people here. It’s a disgrace – this government doesn’t care about helping ordinary people find work”.

Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green has hit out at the decision by the Government to raise VAT in the Budget last week. Kate has put down an Early Day Motion highlighting the unfair and regressive nature of VAT and the negative impact it will have on people on lower incomes. Charities have also singled out the measure as unfair.

Kate’s EDM has been signed by 56 fellow Labour MPs but not a single Tory or Lib Dem.

Kate said: “This budget hit ordinary people hard, with benefits frozen, tax credits cut for families on modest incomes, and support for young people to get into work axed. If all that wasn’t bad enough, it’s not just the cuts to the benefits bill that put the poorest under fire. The rise in VAT will hurt the poorest too. It’s no use Ministers arguing that VAT costs the better off more, or that the zero rating of some basic items means the poorest suffer less. VAT is not some sort of luxury tax – it attaches to household basics, and the disposable incomes of poorer families will be very severely stretched. That’s why I’ve tabled EDM 317. I’m pleased by my colleagues’ support but it’s a real shame that no Tory or Lib Dem MP has signed the EDM to show their anger at this unfair tax.”

Labour MP Kate Green has today payed tribute to our armed forces and veterans ahead of Armed Forces Day on 27th June.

Kate said: ”Our Armed Forces are world class and deserve the support and recognition of the whole country. Armed Forces Day gives us all a chance to stand up and pay tribute to all people who’ve served this country, past and present”

“Our soldiers, sailors and airmen risk their lives daily in Afghanistan and elsewhere to protect our national security. We all owe them a huge debt. We also mustn’t forget all our veterans who have fought and died for our country over the years. I particularly want to recognise the sacrifices and achievements made by the Armed Forces based here in Stretford and Urmston and across the country”.

“I am proud it was a Labour Government that introduced Armed Forces day and of our record in delivering for them and their families.”

“During the election Labour committed to introducing a Forces Charter to enshrine the rights of our Armed Forces in law. Today I am calling on the government to go ahead with this charter to ensure our troops in Stretford and Urmston and cross the country to get all the possible support and help available.”

Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green has been elected vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children. Kate will use this position to stand up for children, young people and their families in Parliament.

An All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children includes more than 200 peers and MPs who want to keep up to date with children and young people’s issues. The group meets approximately once a month.

The APPGC was established in the 1980s. Throughout its history, the group has played a significant role in reports on conditions for children in care, the passage of the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, the introduction of video-links in child abuse trials, and the campaign for Children’s Rights Commissioners in the UK (with that work brought to fruition by the devolved legislatures).

Kate said: “I’m delighted to take on the role of vice-chair and I’m determined to speak up for children and young people. I want every child to enjoy their childhood and grow up to become what they want to be, fulfilling their potential. The All Party Group is a group of politicians from all parties who come together and are committed to being a voice for children in Parliament. And I want us to be a group that listens to children, young people and their families to make sure their priorities are addressed.”

This week the Government announced more cuts – once again showing its harsh approach to public spending. It has taken the decision to cancel 12 vital projects and suspend another 12, harming industries, stifling development and harming normal people in the process.

Perhaps the most disastrous of these cancellations are those that withdraw support for people currently out of work. Unemployment has been falling but now it’s in serious danger of becoming higher following this harmful undermining of state support for those without jobs. The Government has chosen to scrap Labour’s Future Jobs Fund and has slashed support for the long-term unemployed, creating a situation where people seeking work are left without adequate assistance.

Industry has also been adversely affected by the Conservative-Lib Dem announcement. Funding for local authorities to support businesses and for healthcare is being cut. Ministers have not yet announced their plans for Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme – but say tough decisions can be expected. Trafford was due to benefit from the programme to refurbish or rebuild all secondary schools.

Kate said the following about the cancellations: “This announcement highlights the fact that the Government has its eye solely on reducing the deficit, and is clearly failing to recognise the consequences of its measures for ordinary people. The Office for Budget Responsibility has already said that public borrowing is lower than forecast but the Government is pressing on with damaging cuts. David Cameron was eager to display compassion during the general election campaign, but it is becoming increasingly clear that compassion is absent from his newly formed government.”

Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green this week sponsored ‘The Smart Money’ – an event organised by Action for Children, Family Action and Children England with the aim of promoting early intervention for children faced with deprivation and neglect.

The lunchtime event, hosted by Kate in the House of Commons, was organised to raise awareness of early intervention and attract support from MPs. Many MPs attended and promised to ensure the subject receives proper attention in the new parliament, and that families get help early with looking after their children.

The combined experience of the three charities is vast – together they represent over 1,000 projects, work with hundreds of thousands of British children, and oversee projects in almost every constituency in the country. Their approach is one centred on listening to people who are often ignored, and working with them to help them improve their lives.

Kate said: “I’m so proud to have been able to sponsor this event. It’s fantastic that these three wonderful groups have teamed up. Their determination to make progress by working closely with local people is one that I share, and there’s no doubt that their combined efforts will really help with promoting the many benefits of early intervention for neglected children.”

Kate Green is supporting the third annual VQ Day – a celebration of the people who gain vocational qualifications every year – and is encouraging local colleges, schools, businesses and learning providers to get involved.

VQ Day 2010 will be held on 23rd June to recognise the success of millions of vocational learners around the UK in the past year. The day will be marked by events held at colleges and learning providers across the UK – with national events in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

Last year 3.6 million vocational qualifications (VQs) were awarded and millions of people will achieve similar success this year. VQs are increasingly being adopted by employers across a range of industries to help expand and progress their businesses.

Kate said:
“Vocational qualifications are hugely important to the British economy with many businesses benefiting from employees with practical, hands-on experience. VQ Day provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the millions of vocational learners in the UK and I wholeheartedly congratulate those who will be gaining a VQ this year. I hope colleges, schools, learners and employers throughout Stretford and Urmston will join the celebrations on 23 June.”

Plans for VQ Day are being led by independent education foundation Edge, and are supported by the wider education community including examination boards, employers’ organisations, the Association of Colleges and the Association of Learning Providers.

Peter Mitchell, Education Director of Edge, commented:
“Many successful careers are based on the foundation of a VQ with a growing number of industries treating them as a ‘licence to practice’. Some of the country’s senior managers and most successful businesspeople have progressed through the vocational route and employers are increasingly recognising the importance of vocational qualifications, practical experience and the value they can bring to a business.”

Colleges, schools, learning providers and employers are urged to get involved by holding their own celebrations. For more information on VQ Day, and to download an action pack, please visit www.vqday.org.

Stretford and Urmston MP and Former Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group Kate Green has slammed the decision by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government to abolish the Child Trust Fund.

The fund – set up to help families save and provide a nest egg for children when they reach eighteen has been targeted as part of measures to slash £6.2 billion from the economy this year, leading to thousands of job losses and the threat of a double dip recession as spending is cut.

Labour’s Kate Green said: “Axing the child trust fund that gives a lump sum to young people on their 18th birthday shows the new government doesn’t care about ordinary families.

Having a nest egg when you’re starting out in life can make a huge difference, whether it’s buying things for starting in a new job, being able to pay for driving lessons or setting up to attend college away from home. This mean-minded cut will make it harder for all young people to get the best start in life but the Coalition Government is particularly targeting those from poorer backgrounds.

George Osborne knows that he can get away with this cut because the first payments aren’t due to come through till 2020 – so it will be years before young people and their families realise what they’ve lost. The government says it cares about fairness but they’re already reversing measures that would help level the playing field. This is just the thin end of a very thick edge of cuts which will decimate the North West and target families and services here. I’ll be fighting to protect people here from Tory-Lib Dem cuts.”