Fwd: Hacked Off: Briefing on the PressBoF Charter and latest Public Opinion Poll

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Begin forwarded message:

From: <john@hackinginquiry.org>
Date: 18 May 2013 17:46:19 BST
To: <graham.jones.mp@parliament.uk>
Subject: Hacked Off: Briefing on the PressBoF Charter and latest Public Opinion Poll

Download Document(s): JDL.MP.17052013FINAL.pdf, Briefing.PressBoFvsVXPRCFINAL.pdf, 01052013.Pollresults.pdf

Dear Mr Jones,
 

I have attached a 3 documents to this email for your information including:

• A letter outlining the current position relating to the PressBoF draft Charter and the Victim's and Cross-Party Royal Charter agreed by Parliament
• 12 key problems with the PressBoF Charter
• A new opinion poll commissioned by the Media Standards Trust showing a significnat lack of  public trust and confidence in the PressBoF Charter and the regulatory system it seeks to introduce

If you require any further information from Hacked Off or would to arrange a meeting please get in touch.

With best wishes for the weekend,

John

John Dickinson-Lilley

Head of Government & Parliamentary Relations

Hacked Off

Supporting Carers Week

To celebrate the launch of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, I met with actress Lynda Bellingham who is also promoting Carers Week, to recognise the contribution that carers in Haslingden and Hyndburn make on a daily basis.

I wish to support carers across Haslingden and Hyndburn as part of the national awareness campaign, Carers Week. The week is an opportunity to celebrate the 6.5 million carers across the UK and raise awareness of the impact that caring has on people’s lives. A few weeks ago I met with Liz Hamilton, Manager of Carer's Link in Hyndburn to discuss the issues of caring and carer's support in the constituency. As a former carer myself, I
cared for my grandmother who had dementia for several yearsI know the strain it places on those trying to look after others.

In 2013 Carers Week will be focusing on whether the nation is Prepared to Care? The campaign will highlight how the UK’s current carer population is coping, how effectively government is supporting the growing numbers of carers, and whether the wider population is prepared for future caring responsibilities.

As part of Carers Week, a number of events will be held in and around Haslingden and Hyndburn, to help carers access support and advice. Carers can find out what’s going on at www.carersweek.org.

Every day across 1 in 8 people will care for a loved one in some form. This hidden group of people give up their time, sometimes their jobs and often make life changing sacrifices to care for someone. Carers save this country an incredible £119 billion1 every year. That’s why I believe as a society we must be Prepared to Care for our carers.

Actress and former carer, Lynda Bellingham, said: “My sister and I cared for our mother when she had Alzheimer’s and so I know first-hand the impact that caring can have on someone’s life. That’s why I’m supporting Carers Week because I believe it’s vital that help is made available, especially when you consider that every day 6,000 new people will take on a caring role for a loved one. Carers in this country do a fantastic job and we must come together to support them.”

“It’s fantastic to see MPs pledge their support for Carers Week and carers in the UK. Events like this ensure that carers stay at the top of the political agenda and it’s also an opportunity to remind MPs and decision makers of the overwhelming contribution that carers make.”

Helen Clarke, Carers Week Manager, commented: “It’s fantastic to see MPs taking a stand for carers. Carers form the backbone of our society and that’s why Carers Week is so incredibly important to not only recognise their contribution, but ensure they get the help and support they need.”

Carers Week is delivered by a partnership of national charities – Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK and supported by the Stroke Association and Bupa’s Carewell. In 2013 it is sponsored by Sainsbury’s Plc and the sector skills council in England Skills for Care.

Keep up to date with Carers Week and events happening in INSERT AREA at
www.carersweek.org www.facebook.com/carersweek Twitter @carersweek

- ENDS -

1 Carers UK and the University of Leeds (2011) Valuing Carers 2011: Calculating the value of carers’ support.

Notes for editors:

1. Carers Week is delivered by a partnership of national charities – Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK and supported by the Stroke Association and Bupa’s Carewell. In 2013 it is sponsored by Sainsbury’s Plc and the sector skills council in England Skills for Care.

2. Carers Week takes place to recognise and celebrate the UK’s carers and encourage them to access the support, advice and information they need that can help improve their lives and the people they care for.

3. At least 2,000 organisations take part in Carers Week, including local charities and voluntary organisations, hospitals, hospices and care homes and a growing number of employers.

First World War: then and now – a Centenary grants programme launched

Dear Parliamentarian
 

Today the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is launching First World War: then and now, a £6 million small grants programme to help communities across the UK mark the Centenary of the First World War. http://www.hlf.org.uk

HLF is making at least £1 million available per year until 2019 and will provide grants between £3,000 and £10,000 enabling communities and groups to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.

HLF has already invested £10 million in projects – large and small – that will help communities mark the Centenary of First World War and we are pleased that we can now ensure at least £6 million for communities to mark the Centenary over the next six years.

We will outline the programme so that you can encourage your constituents to apply for this Lottery funding. We would be grateful if you could tweet about the new programme using the hashtag #understandingww1 so that as many communities as possible are able to discover and understand more about how the First World War shaped the modern world.

Yours sincerely,

Dame Jenny Abramsky
Chair
http://www.hlf.org.uk

I am backing the Foster Care Fortnight

The Foster Care Fortnight, the annual awareness campaign run by the largest UK fostering charity the Fostering Network, is aiming to support fostering services across the UK in recruiting 9,000 new foster families to provide homes the rising number of children coming into care. 

This year the campaign runs from 13 to 26 May. encourage constituents across the region to consider becoming foster carers to some of the area’s most vulnerable children.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Graham has put him/herself in the frame for Foster Care Fortnight. It shows that they recognise the need to make sure that the children and young people of Hyndburn who most need support, love and care have it.”

Backing Labour's call in the Commons for 5% VAT on repairs & refurbishments

Yesterday during Treasury Questions I raised the issue of this Government’s record on the construction industry, particularly in the North West. Newly published research by R3, the insolvency industry association found that nearly one in three construction companies in the North West of England were ‘at risk’ of going under.

I also raised concerns about the inequity of VAT where new build is VAT exempt but repairs and refurbishments are not. With around 1 in 13 homes empty in Haslingden and Hyndburn zero VAT on new build has less of an impact in the north than reduced VAT on repairs and refurbishments.

Labour has called for a one year reduction in VAT rates for repairs and maintenance down to 5%. Perhaps if the Government had any interest in the North of England when it comes to housing, the construction industry would not be in this potentially difficult situation.

Building firms and employees in the building industry have repeatedly rasied with  me the unfairness of VAT in areas like Hyndburn. The unfair VAT rates are doing nothing to rebalance Britains economy and may be concentratuing growth in the south east.


Fast forward to 12:24:12am and  11:47:42am.

Enough Food for Everyone IF...towards the G8

From: Francesca.Fryer@concern.net
Sent: 09 May 2013 11:34
To: JONES, Graham
Subject: Enough Food for Everyone IF...towards the G8

Dear Mr Jones,, The Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign is now in its 15th week and gearing up for more action in the lead up to the G8.

Since its launch in January, 73,130 supporters have signed up to the campaign using their voice to fight the silent scandal and injustice of hunger. In February and March 40,000 constituents wrote to their MPs, 300 met their MPs, and 17,000 people wrote to the Chancellor directly to express their support for spending 0.7% GNI on overseas aid and encourage him to tackle tax dodging in the Finance Bill.

From 8 to 17 June, the 10 days leading up to the G8 Summit, campaigners will be calling for world leaders to tackle hunger, including tens of thousands of people gathering in Hyde Park on 8 June. To help end hunger we are calling on the G8 to:

·         Clamp down on tax havens and launch a Convention on Tax Transparency to stop the billions of pounds that flow out of developing countries and could be used to help end hunger.

Help poor countries make sure that people have enough food and nutrition by supporting poor families to grow their own food and by investing in nutrition.

·         Give people in developing countries more control over their land by protecting poor farmers from land grabs and using land to grow food not biofuels.

As part of the activities in the lead up to the G8 Summit, this and next month the IF campaign will be holding a number of events in Parliament:

Labour outlines an alternative Queen’s Speech

Britain faces some big challenges after three wasted years of Government under the Tories and their Lib Dem allies.

The Government promised change but things have got worse not better: more people are out of work than when David Cameron became Prime Minister, families are paying the price for a flatlining economy with real wages down £1,700 since the general election and energy bills have risen by more than £300.

Britain needs change but we won’t get it from an out-of-touch Tory-led Government whose only idea is to carry on with a failed economic plan that offers more of the same.

We need new ideas and a renewed focus on how to make our economy deliver for everyone and not just a few at the top.

Labour has outlined an alternative Queen’s Speech with economic plans that include putting people back to work through a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee paid for by a tax on bankers’ bonuses, making work pay by introducing a new 10p tax rate paid for by taxing property worth more than £2 million and strengthening laws to stop people having their wages undercut illegally by employers exploiting foreign workers.

We would also reform the energy market to break the stranglehold of the big six energy companies and cap train fares to stop the price of the daily commute going up and up.

These measures could make a real difference to people in Haslingden and Hyndburn but we can only turn Britain around by working together as One Nation.

International Day Against Homophobia - May 17th

This May 17th I am supporting the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). Across the world and the UK, gay and lesbian people still face persecution, discrimination and abuse on an all-too-frequent basis. No one should be maltreated as a result of their sexuality in 2013. There cannot be differeing degrees of equality.

We rebuild Britain by standing up for the many but this Tory-led Government only stands up for the few

But we won’t get it from this Tory-led Government.

The Tories and their Lib Dem allies were given the opportunity to set out a positive agenda for the year ahead when the Queen opened Parliament and delivered a speech outlining the Government’s priorities on Wednesday.

But all we got was a no-answers Queen’s Speech from a tired and failing Government that is out of touch, out of ideas and unable to bring about the change we desperately need.

Their record is one of economic failure and it’s hard-working people who do the right thing who are footing the bill. With prices rising faster than wages, the economy flatling and one million young people out of work the Tory-led Government’s priority this April was to cut taxes by an average of £100,000 for 13,000 people earning over £1 million.

Policies like this aren’t going to help hard-working families in Haslingden and Hyndburn trying to make ends meet.

Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech was a chance to rebuild our economy and get people back into work but instead it offered no change and no hope. Energy bills, water bills, paying the mortgage, the cost of getting to work – these are the issues that are worrying families in Haslingden and Hyndburn but the Government has absolutely nothing to say about it. In its deafening silence the Government demonstrated how utterly out of touch it is with the real needs of hard-working people in Haslingden and Hyndburn.

This was an opportunity missed. We rebuild Britain by standing up for the many but this Tory-led Government only stands up for the few while living standards fall for everyone else.

Britain is heading in the wrong direction under the Tories. What we need is a change of direction but it’s only by working together as One Nation that this will happen.

RNIB's new report "Don't lose sight"! Don't delay!" - Help for Constituents

From: Clarke, Katherine [mailto:Katherine.Clarke@rnib.org.uk]
Sent: 09 May 2013 11:45
To: JONES, Graham
Subject: Help for your Constituents

Dear Mr Jones, RNIB's new report "Don't lose sight"! Don't delay!" http://bit.ly/X96uxp reveals that your constituents' lack of knowledge about the early signs of wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) is leading to unnecessary sight loss. Wet AMD is an eye condition that affects 40,000 over 50s every year. Sight loss from Wet AMD can be prevented if people get treatment when they notice the early signs: a sudden change in vision such as faces become blurry or that straight lines appear wavy. Our report reveals that far too many people are unaware of the signs of wet AMD and do not seek immediate treatment. Your constituents can find out more by calling RNIB's helpline on 0303 123 9999 or googling ‘Spot the Signs’.

Should burning Britain’s forests to create electricity be stopped? - Norbord

I have raised the issue of government subsidies to energy from biomass producers which has forced up wood prices for other industries. Notably furniture manufacturers in the North West. Our wood consumption rate far exceeds our wood production rate and there are questions about the environmental benefits requiring decades to payback.

I believe electricity from biomass is important - and the government have just paid a grant to switch the huge Drax facility from coal to biomass – and setting aside the unclear debate about the envronmental impact, the answer to price inflation is to increase forestry production. Currently production is way below future anticipated demand. I raised this point during the passage of the energy bill in committee around the contracts for difference which is a contract stating the subsidy that will be given to renewable energy producers based on the source and energy output.

Labour's Alternative Queen's Speech - Angela Eagle

On Wednesday the Queen will open the next session of parliament and announce the government's legislative plans for the next year. While the government scrabble around for a coherent agenda, Labour has set out what would be in our Queen's Speech: six bills with a relentless focus on the economy.

Over the last session of parliament we have seen a remarkably thin legislative agenda from the government. Swathes of parliamentary time have been left unfilled and the bills that they did produce have been chaotic, badly drafted and badly managed. I have calculated that since the last Queen's speech, the government have u-turned on average once every seven sitting days. If No10 briefing is accurate, they are u-turning on this Queen's Speech before it's even been delivered by dropping minimum alcohol pricing, plain cigarette packaging and their register of lobbying interests.

Aerospace Technology Institute.

Below is the latest correspondence on the location of the new Aerospace Technology Institute.

It is important that East Lancashire rebuilds its manufacturing base around industries like aerospace which employs many thousands already in the region.

Local schools and My Money Week

The first week in June is My Money Week (3 to 9 June), when local schools have the chance to help pupils  learn more about money and personal finance. Every primary and secondary school in Hyndburn is being given the opportunity to take part for free in My Money Week, which has returned for its fifth year thanks to a new partnership between national charity pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group) and Barclays.

My Money Week will improve young people’s financial skills, knowledge and confidence through special lessons, activities and debates in schools and other settings across the UK. Teachers in Hyndburn can order a free Activity Pack, developed by pfeg, full of creative and engaging financial resources and ideas for how to deliver financial education to young people, from the age of four up to 19. Young people in Hyndburn can also take part in the ‘A-Z of Money’, a national competition challenging them to learn more about money through creative writing.

Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), said: “We are absolutely delighted to have the support of Graham Jones MP in promoting My Money Week this year, and I hope all schools in Hyndburn will seize the opportunity to take part through our free activity pack, advice and support.”

Hyndburn Savings & Loan Company - an impossible idea?

Since Labour came to power in Hyndburn in 2011 we have been looking at ways to assist businesses. It is important the Labour Party and your Labour Council helps small businesses. Recently we have been looking at a Hyndburn Savings and Loan Company similar to 'Bank on Dave' which has featured on Channel 4.

Providing access to funds for local businesses to invest and use to expand as well as providing suitable loans to local people at affordable interest rates would clearly be of financial benefit to the local economy. It should also reduce some of the worst aspects of lending practice centred around other non-traditional lenders and therefore has potential other socio-economic benefits.

The programme makes light of the simplicity of such a 'bank' and the difficulties entailed in setting one up, notably that all the problems encountered are surmounted by the 'Bank on Dave' by Dave Fishwick's personal guarantee's backed by his personal wealth.

Following a discussion between the Council leader and myself, the Council has undertaken some initial research into setting up a similar bank to “Bank on Dave” which is officially known as Burnley, Savings and Loans Ltd.

As you can see with various options there are real difficulties and at this stage the barriers to Council are involvement are considerable.

Direct Council Funding

The Council would be prohibited from depositing funds with Hyndburn, Savings and Loans Ltd (or any other Savings and Loans Company) as they are only allowed to lend money to organisations with appropriate credit ratings. Savings and Loans Companies have no prospects of achieving such a rating.

People’s Millions deadline for entries - 13 May 2013

Mr Graham Jones MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
graham.jones.mp@parliament.uk
1 May 2013

People's Millions deadline for entries - 13 May 2013

Dear Mr Jones

As you may be aware, the Big Lottery Fund and ITV are giving the public a chance to vote for the community projects they want to receive good cause funding. We will be awarding up to £50,000 to 76 projects across every region of the UK to charitable projects which inspire, involve and improve their local community.

Each night for a week in November, those who make the best applications will battle it out on prime time ITV regional news for the public vote. Whether or not they succeed, the competition represents a great opportunity to mobilise support and publicity behind a local cause.

The deadline for applications is 13 May 2013 and I encourage you to get groups in your constituency to fill out the simple entry form online at www.peoplesmillions.org.uk or contact the Big Advice Line on 0845 0 10 11 12. In the past, approximately half of all groups entering the competition have not been funded by us before. For further information please visit www.peoplesmillions.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

PETER WANLESS

Chief Executive

Breast Cancer Matters

From: Mia Rosenblatt
To: JONES, Graham
Subject: Breast Cancer Matters

Dear Mr Jones, Breast Cancer Campaign is committed to maintaining breast cancer research and charity-funded medical research and we know that medical research is an issue that people across the country care deeply about.

We are keen to ensure that the importance of charity funded medical research is not forgotten in the lead-up to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2015-16. We would therefore be delighted if you would support this aim by writing to the Chancellor to ask him to continue to support the Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF) for the Spending Review period 2015-16 and also to improve access to the Gift Aid scheme, to enable charities to more easily access Gift Aid from small donations made in the workplace.

Below is information on the two specific schemes as well as an overview of the importance of research.

Why breast cancer research is so important
Breast cancer remains the UK’s most common cancer and one of the most difficult health issues affecting women, with over 50,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer and 12,000 people dying of the disease every year in the UK. Millions more live with the impact of the condition. It is through research that we will find the treatments of the future.

Why the Charity Research Support Fund is so important
There are many charities in the UK which, like Breast Cancer Campaign, are committed to funding medical research. Charities fund the direct costs of research, such as the scientists and laboratory supplies while the Government supports the indirect costs – the infrastructure costs like heating and lighting – through a fund known as the Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF). Losing this Fund could be the equivalent of Breast Cancer Campaign cutting around a quarter of our annual research spend overnight. This partnership working between the Government and charities leverages additional funding for research and universities which means that considerably more investment in research is able to take place than would otherwise be the case and also brings major health and economic benefits. The CRSF also means that charities are able to fulfil their duty to their supporters to ensure that the funds they donate are spent directly on medical research and not university infrastructure.

Labour Councillors hard work pays off with £1.5m lottery success

The Pals marching outside Accrington Town Hall.

Labour are determined to revive Hyndburn's market towns in the hostile climate of austerity, economic downturn, out of town retail and the Internet. It is important our local heritage is a focal point of the drive towards town centre living and a more leisurely retail experience.

The Labour Council had already had a previous application for funding declined which was very disappointing at the time and since then much effort has gone in by Labour Councillors and myself to ensure that we wouldn't be disappointed a second time.

I am delighted that this time it has been successful. It isn't just about improving the public realm. We must use the funding to take the look of Accrington back in time, matching the period features with period street furniture and signage. Visitors must want to come to Accrington because it is a market town, because it has that charm from a century past and if it is to be successful it must look like that in all aspects. I just hope with the funding and the vision, Accrington's shop keepers will swing fully behind the ideas.

Accrington Town Centre and the Pals Centenary Townscape Heritage Initiative secures Heritage Lottery Fund support

Hyndburn Borough Council has received initial support¹ for a £1.5m Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI)² bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Accrington Town Centre and Pals Centenary project, it was announced today. The project aims to transform the declining historic retail and commercial gateway into the town centre, along Blackburn Road, culminating in a public realm scheme outside Accrington Town Hall and Market Hall to commemorate the Accrington Pals and the Battle of the Somme. The scheme will last for 5 years from 2014 and over the next 12 months the Council will be working with property owners along Blackburn Road to identify the improvements that will be undertaken and will be commissioning architects to design the public realm scheme. The Council is investing an additional £500,000 into the scheme.

Development funding of £25,000 has also been awarded to help the Council progress their plans and over the next 12 months the Council will be fine-tuning the proposals and undertaking initial surveys and estimates.

Britain's renting families urgently need help

Dear Mr Jones, A new report by Shelter today reveals that a generation of families are living in unstable, unaffordable and poor quality private homes – and it is children that are bearing the brunt.

1 in 5 families in Britain now rent their home, as the shortage of affordable housing and high cost of home ownership take their toll. These days, just 6% of renters are students.

But our rental market was not set up to provide permanent housing. As a result, it is not always suitable for families.

The result is that many families are struggling to cope with the volatility and unpredictability which characterises much of the sector.

Growing up renting finds 1 in 10 renting families have had to change their children's school due to moving house. This can prove stressful and upsetting for many. With these families nine times more likely to have moved house in the last year than homeowners, 44% of renting parents feel their children would have a better childhood if they had more stability in their home.

What to expect from your doctor: a guide for patients

From: lwright@gmc-uk.org
Subject: What to expect from your doctor: a guide for patients

Good Morning, I am writing to let you know about the GMC's new guide to what patients can expect from their doctor.

Patients deserve the highest standards of care and we are committed to ensuring that they understand what these are. We have therefore produced this guide which underlines the importance of dignity, mutual respect and partnership between patients and their doctor. It also sets out the duties of the doctor and that all doctors need to be honest and open if things go wrong, and to make the care of patients their first concern.

This guide complements Good medical practice, our core guidance for all doctors.

East Lancashire Power Loom Riots 1826

This week is the 187th anniversary of the East Lancashire loom riots that led eventually to changes in factory conditions for working people which began by starving workers marching from Enfield to Grange Mill at the bottom of Manchester Road in Accrington where the first power looms were destroyed.

The power-loom riots of 1826 took place in Lancashire, England, in protest against the economic hardship suffered by traditional handloom weavers caused by the widespread introduction of the much more efficient power loom [4] set against a cost of living crisis following the Napoleonic Wars. Rioting broke out on 24 April and continued for three days, widely supported by the local population, who were sympathetic to the weavers' plight.

Sykes’s Mill at Higher Grange Lane
Courtesy of the Lancashire County Library Service - Accrington Library.

After a period of prosperity in the 1810s the textile industry suffered a serious slump in 1825.

After a period of relative prosperity in the early 1820’s, the winter of 1825-26 was to produce nothing but hardship for the cotton workers of East Lancashire. Some of the banks had not the silver or gold to back up the paper notes they had issued. These were recalled; loans were also revoked causing many bankruptcies. The earlier affluence had increased the number of handloom weavers so much so that it was possible for the manufacturers to reduce the wages of those employed at weaving. The handloom weaver at the end of the cotton manufacturing chain, and unorganised was easy prey to the manufacturers. In the good years, 1802-1806, the handloom weavers were earning up to 23s a week [5] ,by 1826 this had been reduced to less than 8s per week [6].

The good times had brough in 000’s of employed weavers who had been employed to supplement production at local factories were the first to be hit, and by the spring of 1826 there was, once again, real hardship in the county. Pleas to the government for a minimum wage had fallen on deaf ears (In May, 1808, the Weavers' Minimum Wage Bill was rejected by the House of Commons), and attempts by the workers to better their own lot had been met with repression and even, as witnessed in Manchester in 1819, with appalling violence (the so-called “Peterloo Massacre”) The average earnings for weavers had nearly halved, and unemployment was running, in some areas, at a staggering 60%. [3]

A letter to the Blackburn Mail of the 15th February 1826 tells of receiving 1s-9d a piece, considering that in 1814 he would have received 6s-9d- one can see the grounds he has for complaint. He tells of having four children and a wife to keep, and that he works from four in the morning to twelve at night. This family, like many others would be surviving, if that is the word , off one meal of oatmeal porridge a day. [7] That food prices had doubled in a few short years.

On April 12th, Blackburn Weavers' Union secretary John Lancaster wrote to the Home Secretary, Robert Peel, pointing out that wages had been cut repeatedly for 11 years, and now, even those workers in employment could afford no more than one or two meals a day. [8]

"Our dwellings are totally destitute of every necessary comfort," he complained. "Every article of value has disappeared either to satisfy the cravings of hunger or to appease the clamour of relentless creditors: our homes, where plenty and contentment once resided, are now become the abodes of penury and wretchedness." [8]

William Turner’s book ‘Riot’ details the absolute depths of poverty of those in work, the staggering number of those reliant on poor law relief whilst working 78 hours a week or more and the escalating numbers of destitute condemned to the workhouse as unemployment rose. [7] There was simply no way of escaping the starvation. That appeals for a minimun wage or greater relief had fallen on deaf ears. Turner’s book refers to commentary of the time, that such destitution the like had never been seen before.

On Monday the 24th April 1826 a mass meeting of over a 1000 weavers, some armed was held on Enfield Moor, Whinney Hill in Clayton-le-Moors near to Accrington [5]. Speeches were made and then the crowd marched on Sykes’s Mill at Higher Grange Lane, near the site of the modern police station and Magistrate’s Courts, where at 60 looms where smashed. These riots spread from Accrington through Oswaldtwistle, Blackburn, Darwen, Rossendale, Bury and Chorley. In the end after three days of riots 1,139 looms were destroyed, 4 rioters and 2 bystanders shot dead by the authorities in Rossendale and 41 rioters sentenced to death (all of whose sentences were commuted).[1][2]

Hyndburn Superloo - well done to the Daily Star for reporting the story accurately

SPENDING a penny costs £18 a time in a town’s “superloo”.

(Tory) Councillors signed a £28,245-a-year deal to rent it until 2023, thinking they would get their money back by charging people 20p a visit.

But town hall twits positioned it less than 4ft from a free public toilet.

In a whole year only 1,520 people used the facilities – earning the council just £304.

Just to break even, the toilet would have to be used 386 times a day – roughly once every four minutes right round the clock.

And to make matters worse, the loo’s water supply was accidentally turned off – but nobody noticed for weeks.

Read more at
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/311541

Hacked Off: Briefing on the Press Charter

From: john@hackinginquiry.org [mailto:john@hackinginquiry.org]
Sent: 26 April 2013 14:48
To: JONES, Graham
Subject: Hacked Off: Briefing on the Press Charter

Download Document(s): PressRoyalCharter.FINAL.pdf 

Dear Mr Jones, Please find attached a briefing setting out the key failings of the press charter published yesterday and supported by some sections of the press.

The press charter has many weaknesses which the briefing explains in more detail however key issues include:

The press charter fails to implement Lord Justice Leveson's proposals for the processes required to establish both an independent Recognition Panel and an independent press self-regulator

The press continue to act in their own interests and have ignored numerous independent polls conducted over the last year which demonstrate 75% of the public support an independent press regulator

The press has ignored the democratic will of both Houses of Parliament which has been expressed supporting a Leveson-compliant Royal Charter. The Leveson Charter was delivered through cross-party consensus and implements Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations

I hope you find this briefing helpful. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes,
John Dickinson-Lilley
Head of Government and Parliamentary Relations
Hacked Off

Remembering Workers Memorial Day & 68 lives lost at Moorfield Colliery in 1883

Workers Memorial Day at the pit head of Moorfield Colliery where 68 men and boys lost their lives in a terrible pit disaster.





ON THE morning of 7 November 1883 a terrible explosion ripped through the underground workings at the Moorfield Colliery, Altham.

The explosion resulted in the death of 68 men and boys, with numerous more receiving serious injuries. Over the following years many of them died prematurely as a direct result of their injuries.

Moorfield Colliery, locally known as Dickie Brig Pit, Altham, near Accrington. Sixty-eight men and lads lost their lives, fifty three were injured, and ninety-five children were left fatherless. It remains as the biggest and worst disaster ever to have hit North-East Lancashire.

Improving rolling stock in East Lancashire

I intend to raise the issues in this letter in the coming days with LCC and Northern witrh regard to the East Lancashire line, the franchise renogotiation and the new upcoming Accringtion to Manchester direct communter line.

Stroke Association Action on Stroke Month, May 2013 - Pledge your support today

Dear Mr Jones, May 2013 will be the second Action on Stroke Month, and we invite you to pledge your support here: http://www.stroke.org.uk/strokemonth/pledge

Every year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. That's one person every five minutes. Around a third of strokes will prove fatal and around half of all stroke survivors are left with a long-term disability including physical, communication, emotional and psychological issues.

Progress has been made in stroke research, prevention and care but there is still so much more that can be done to help prevent strokes and improve the quality of life for stroke survivors and their families after stroke. Action on Stroke Month is about raising awareness of stroke and the impact on stroke survivors, their carers and families. It’s also about standing together for life after stroke, and ensuring that every stroke survivor gets the support they need to make their best possible recovery from stroke.

Across the country, many community events and activities are being planned for Action on Stroke Month, to reach out to stroke survivors and demonstrate the services and support that is available to them. Your pledge will help raise awareness of stroke and let supporters in your own constituency and across the UK know that you are fully behind the great work that is being done for stroke survivors, their families and carers.

Acre in Rossendale - a village seeking recognition

I have been sent correspondence regarding the post codes for the village of Acre in Rossendale. A concern about the loss of the identity of the village. I thought such a historical correspondence was worth publishing.

Thanks for your letter of support - I have now sent them off to Royal Mail's Major Address change department and shall keep you updated as to the outcome of the consultation.

Non UK nationals claiming benefits

Last week I received a response to a Parliamentary Question from the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the numbers of non-UK Nationals who claim various benefits, and the answer should concern everyone, regardless of what you think about the rights of foreign nationals to claim benefits here.

Unemployment up - Cameron and Osborne’s economic policies are failing us all

Here in the Hyndburn long term unemployment is still up 63% over the last year, and long-term youth unemployment is up 107% - more than double over just 12 months.

In Rossendale and Darwen including Haslingden, long term unemployment is still up 29% over the last year, and long-term youth unemployment is up 64%.

It is getting clearer by the day that David Cameron and George Osborne’s economic policies are failing our area.

Families are £891 worse off because of tax and benefit changes and pay packets are now on average a whopping £1,700 smaller than at the last election.

People have to work almost an extra month and a half to make what they did in 2010. Working people feel they’re going backwards because they are going  backwards.

A flat-lining economy and rising long-term unemployment has put up the welfare bill by over £21 billion more than planned and this Government is asking hard-working families to pay the price whilst they hand an average £100,000 tax cut to the richest people in the country. Unemployment is not only higher than at the election, it’s soaring.

We need urgent action now to bring down the benefits bill, but we shouldn’t be cutting working tax credits for striving families – we should be getting people into jobs. That’s why Labour is calling for a tough but fair Compulsory Jobs Guarantee.

Labour’s Compulsory Jobs Guarantee would offer anyone who has been out of work for more than two years, or one year if they are under 25, a real job – one that they would be required to take, no ifs and no buts.

Britain needs real welfare reform that is tough, fair and that works – not divisive and misleading claims from an out of touch Government.

David Cameron is dividing Britain with his millionaire’s tax cut

Families are now losing £891 a year while David Cameron gives an average tax cut of £100,000 to millionaires.

This is the wrong choice, it is unfair and is totally out of touch with people on modest incomes who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

Cameron had a chance to make amends this week, when Labour proposed measures to make taxes fairer and to ease the squeeze on living
standards.

But instead, the Tories voted against:

• cancelling the millionaire’s tax cut and the raid on family tax credits
• a temporary VAT cut bringing back the 10p tax rate, paid
• for by a tax on properties worth over £2million
• cracking down on tax avoidance by companies who earn from us but don’t pay their way

This sends a clear signal to the whole country about whose side David Cameron is on and who he expects to pay for his Government’s failure to get the economy back on track.

A One Nation Labour Government would make different choices from the Tory-led Government, with different priorities about who we stand up for, and different ideas about who to stand up to.

One Nation Labour’s policies are about ensuring everyone plays their part in rebuilding Britain.

The Tory-led Government has taken Britain backwards.

It’s only with everyone pulling together that we’re going turn things around.

ASBO's; Tories are soft on crime, and soft on the causes of crime

Figures released today have revealed that Hyndburn has the 13th highest rate of anti social behaviour in the country. A shameful statistic given the sterling work done by the Police in teh face of collasall budget cuts and huge reductions in numbers of police officers.

A detailed breakdown obtained by Freedom of Information Requests from Shadow Home Office Minister Gloria De Piero and research by statisticians from the House of Commons Library has revealed new figures, which show in Hyndburn local authority there were 6,170 anti-social behaviour incidents recorded by the police in 2012 – that is a rate of 76.4 for every 100 residents.

This once again highlights the reason that the Government is completely wrong to scrap the ASBO. The Police don’t want it scrapped, and the public don’t it scrapped. Too often the media focused on the 50% who breached their ASBO not going to prison but with the ending of the ASBO the 50% who previously did go to prison will now not do so. We've gone form a 50/50 chance of going to prison to no chance.

The figures also paint a revealing picture of the scale of the anti-social behaviour problem at a police force wide area, with Lancashire police force recording 91,053 incidents of anti-social behaviour in 2012 – the fourth highest in the country, and an average 62.3 for every 1000 residents.

I believe the ASBO worked, and so do the police. But this Government does not listen to the police, the victims or anyone who has experience of tackling crime.

Critics who thought the ASBO was soft on crime have got the worst of all outcomes, they have had it replaced by something which is weak, and which carries no criminal sanction for a breach. The Government’s new so-called ‘community trigger’ only requires a police response when someone has complained 3 times. This is not good enough – people have the right to have their complaints about anti-social behaviour dealt with right away.

This Government is effectively abolishing anti-social behaviour enforcement. The Tories are soft on crime, and soft on the causes of crime.

Free housing advice for residents

Dear Mr Jones,

Every 15 minutes, a family in England faces losing their home. That is why today we are asking all our contacts and supporters to share a simple message to let as many people as possible know we're here with free, online advice - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As an MP we feel you are well placed to pass the message on to your community and we hope you can help.

Please tweet our message to your constituents:

I'm passing it on for @Shelter, to let everyone know about their free, online advice at http://shltr.org.uk/1i #ShelterHelp

And share our online advice pages on you website and Facebook page.

Hundreds of thousands of families are affected by the rise in living costs and recent welfare changes; help us urge anyone who is worried to seek early expert advice.

Many thanks,

Ellie Robinson
Public Affairs Officer

Shelter, 88 Old St, London, EC1V 9HU | 0344 515 2052 | 

www.shelter.org.uk/parliament

Woodnook - update

Things are progressing in Woodnook. Labour's regeneration scheme following a decade of broken Tory promises is now at the structural engineer's stage. An assessment is being made of the integrity of each property and where structurel works are required. The fire damaged properties on Booth Street for example. PlaceFirst, a national pension company are working with the Labour Council to bring 80 fully modernised, enlarged properties (2 into 1's) back in to use for affordable private rent, guaranteeing their maintenance for the next forty years. This innovative scheme has attracted national attention and featured heavily in the trade press and is a feature of the BBC's One Show.

I am proud of the role I and Clare Pritchard played in developing this particulalr scheme and it demonstrates that Labour has kept promises to residents (unlike the Tories) and is on the side of ordinary hard working people.

My letter to the Trustee's of Agapao International

To Claire Dilworth, Trustee of Agapao, daughter of Louise Chicot.

I write without wishing to add to the issue but with a deep concern over the activities of Agapao. I have received your Facebook comments and I am sure you share a deep concern for the charity and Louise.

As you will appreciate there is grave concern that the Mary Hindle Centre will not be returned to public use/access. Community Link have shown some indication that they may want to take it on.

My own view is that it is unacceptable if it is sold and the trustees can enhance the charities credibility by beginning the process of handing over to another Haslingden community group.

No-one wants to question the charity but a failure to begin the hand back process of the building and a lack of accountability in Uganda have drawn quizzical interest from those wishing to ensure that motives and outcomes are conducive with the charity's stated aims.

My personal advice is that the transfer of the building will answer most of the questions and relieve much of the stress which has been built up at the charity and in the community. I would be more than willing to help with the transfer.

The return of the heartless Tory Milk Snatchers

Lancashire's Thatcherite Tories snatch milk away from Lancashire's under 7's.

Back in the 70's it was 'Margaret Thatcher the Milk Snatcher' when she removed free school milk from older primary school children. Now her Tory Party colleagues running Lancashire County Council have followed in her footsteps and axed milk for the under 7s'.

The School and Nursery Milk Alliance have stepped into the debate and backed my campaign opposing the cuts to school milk.

Milk off the menu for Lancashire schoolchildren- Lancashire Evening Post

"Lancashire is one of the few remaining authorities still offering school milk - free for under fives and those on free dinners- but it is not a legal requirement. Parents of five to seven year olds currently pay £6 a term to help cover the cost.

Government changes to school funding mean schools now have to source their own supplies and claim back subsidies. For some, the paperwork is a step too far. They say they don’t have the resources to deal with the administration and have told parents there won’t be any more milk.

One disappointed mum said: “I understand that the government has made significant council budget reductions but I find it disgusting that children are suffering. Some poor children will have no breakfast and depend upon that milk.”. "

Lancashire's Tories are letting Lancashire's children down. Milk is an important nutritional part of a child's diet. The SNMA state in their letter that "The health benefits of milk are well recognised, contributing to teeth and bone health and contributing to the fight against obesity, particularly child obesity". Quite frankly its a disgrace that the government cuts are being directed at 5 to 7 year old's and it flies in the face of every promise David Cameron and George Osborne have made about not cutting the deficit off the backs of the poor.

The SNMA in their supporting letter express concern about Government changes to school funding that have contributed to LCC's decision.

However in a Parliamentary answer the Government minister tried to blame it on the EU;

Graham Jones (Hyndburn, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education; (1) how much funding for milk in schools in Lancashire (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) Lancashire county council provided in each of the last five years;
(2) how much funding for milk in schools in Lancashire (a) his Department and (b) Lancashire county council plans to provide in 2013-14. Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 26 March 2013, c1105W)

David Heath (Minister) (Somerton and Frome, Liberal Democrat)
In respect of the EU School Milk Scheme and the National Top-Up for English primary schools it is not possible to provide reliable data at the level of individual counties. It is for Lancashire county council to provide if possible any details of the claims and payments they may have received or made.

It is not possible to say how much funding may be provided as the level of funding under these schemes is driven by consumption at participating schools.

Nuisance Calls - Gov't has no plans to further protect bombarded consumers

Graham Jones (Hyndburn, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has given consideration to consolidating the responsibility for dealing with nuisance calls entirely in either Ofcom or the Information Commissioner's Office. Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 17 April 2013, c425W)

Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative)

As the Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, I have considered the possibility of allocating responsibility for nuisance calls, texts and e-mails, to either Ofcom or to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). However, this is unlikely to make much difference unless enforcement of the existing regulations is carried out effectively.

FOI on LCC Horsemeat scadal - 2nd source of adulterated meat

An early bid for the Aerospace Technology Institute

I have today written the Department for Business Innovation and Skills making an early bid for the Aerospace Technology Institute which was announced in the budget earlier this year, to be located in or around the constituency.

The North West, and Lancashire in particular has a great industrial base in defence and aerospace manufacturing on which to build, and I believe it would be an endorsement of the region and if the government are serious about rebalancing the economy, then the heart of east Lancashire would be a priority site.

 

Observer Column Thursday 11th April 2013

Since last month’s column, I haven’t had the chance to quite finish reading Bill Turner’s book on the East Lancashire Loom Riots of 1826. What I did manage to finish reading I would recommend, Jean Hatzfeld’s ‘A Time for Machetes - The Rwandan Genocide - The Killers Speak’ where 800,000 adults and children were hacked to death in just 12 weeks. Both books are a reminder of how lucky most of us are; the value of Western Europe, the safest place on the planet; the disdain for the poor in undemocratic regimes and the importance of human rights and freedoms here and abroad.

The most important of subject is jobs and growth and I wanted to mention how all of East Lancashire’s MPs and Councils are working together to promote Pennine Lancashire. I have written a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister in support of the five councils Regional Growth Fund bid – co-signed by the all the other MPs - to accelerate business growth in East Lancashire. There is considerable common endeavour on these matters and there is agreement that the economic growth is the sub-regions top priority; unlocking the potential of industrial estates particularly along the M65 and A66 corridors.

Too often political differences are reported in the media and not often enough politicians pulling together. The British media is now at a crossroads. No more so than the sensationalist reporting of the death of Lucy Meadows for entertainment value, the Accrington transgender schoolteacher who it appears may have taken her own life. I have spoken with parents who tell me she was a great teacher and that most children in the class attended her funeral. I spoke live on Sky News – not for the first time – on the issue and the role of the press.

Hyndburn Homewise hit by huge cuts from Lancashire's Tory County Council

Lancashire County Council recently gave the contract for undertaking minor home adaptations in Hyndburn to the Keir Group, having removed it from Homewise and St Vincent’s.

‘Minor adaptations’ refers to the Council services for people who own a home or rent privately, to make small adaptations to disabled peoples’ homes, such as through installing hand rails, alterations to steps, or widening of doors and paths.

The contract has been taken from two local not-for-profit organisations which have a track record of delivery, and putting people first, and given to the Keir Group, which is a large for-profit organisation. This signals a disappointing shift away from community involvement in service delivery.

FOBT's - The case against them

I am aware that the Association of British Bookmakers is currently driving a campaign called “Back Your Local Bookie”, arguing that betting shops are “under attack”, and asserting that thousands of shops and therefore jobs are at risk. Calls to support this campaign are being targeted at industry employees and betting shop customers.

However, the current media and political interest is in FOBTs, which operate in betting shops. There has been nothing to indicate that this interest is derived from a specific attack on the betting industry. It is centred on concerns about FOBTs, in particular the relationship between problem gambling and high stakes gaming.

Public and political concern about FOBTs have resulted in comprehensive research being commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Trust, and FOBTs have been incorporated in the current Triennial Review of stakes and prizes by the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

A recent report published by NatCen based on the 2007 & 2010 British Gambling Prevalence surveys showed that there has been an increase in the number of 16-34 year olds gambling on FOBTs in betting shops (9% to 14%). Gamcare report that 28% of all calls they receive are related to FOBTs.

A secondary analysis based on the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey found FOBTs to be the only gambling type that remained significantly and positively associated with problem gambling. Therefore, we should welcome a sensible debate on the issue of FOBTs. Hugh Robertson, the Minister responsible for gambling at the Department for Culture Media and Sport has already said, “Common sense suggests there is a problem with these machines.”

There are no calls for FOBTs to be removed from betting shops. Only a sensible argument for the B2 casino content, where it is possible to stake up to £100 every 20 seconds, to be brought in line with all other Category B machines and capped at £2 per spin. This may impact on some B2 content, but B3 game content would still operate with a prize payout of £500. When B2 content was first introduced to betting shops, revenue transferred from over the counter business and fruit machines. If restrictions are imposed on B2 content, revenue will reverse to traditional betting products and also B3 content whilst, crucially, ensuring vulnerable people such as problem gamblers are protected.

The Gambling Act 2005 states one of its objectives is to protect young and vulnerable people. The implications of stakes up to £100 mean FOBTs are in violation of that objective and therefore the law, so it is my duty as a legislator to argue in favour of restrictions, which is what I will continue to do.

Lancashire County Council - Horsemeat scandal - What is being done to protect LCC taxpayers and consumers?

I have today written to Lancashire County Council about the horsemeat which has been supplied for County Council services.

My office submitted a Freedom of Information Request asking about whether Oak Farm Foods (the company which supplied adulterated beef products containing horse DNA) had any contracts with other LCC services. The FOI request revealed that Oak Farm Foods does supply a number of care homes, however the processed beef products have been withdrawn.

Lancashire County Council has been caught up in the horse meat scandal. Horsemeat has also been found in cottage pies supplied to 47 schools in Lancashire. These have been withdrawn.

It is important that Lancashire council tax payers and residents have faith that appropriate action is being taken to ensure this issue does not reoccur and that the Council is compensated for the adulterated meat, breach of contract and any non disclosure. The meat company having known about horsemeat adulteration prior to notifying the County Council.

Tory run LCC have previously refused to name the schools involved or the supplier but were exposed by the Daily Mail.

"It is understood the supplier involved, Oak Farm Foods in Ireland, has been supplying the ready meals for at least the past six months. There are also suggestions that the pies and other products made by Oak Farm have been supplied to schools and other outlets across the UK and Ireland."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2279132/Horsemeat-scandal-Horsemeat-hospital-school-pub-meals--contaminated-meat-sale-SIX-MONTHS.html#ixzz2NcTYhpId

It appears it may have come via Catering giant Compass Group and Whitbread, one of Britain's largest hotel chains, have found horse DNA in products sold as beef, it has emerged. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21476140

Things took a twist yesterday.The Irish government have released their report into the horsemeat scandal with some useful details around the Lancashire schools issue.

Oak Farm Foods is the UK division of Dawn Fresh Foods, the Fethard, Co Tipperary-based convenience food company. The report says that QK Meats – who supplied the mince to Dawn Fresh Foods to make the cottage pies – first tested positive for horse in June 2012 but did not tell anyone. They also continued to use the same Polish suppliers.

This is the link to the report: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/publications/2013/EquineDNAreport140313.pdf 

Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has slated the "inexcusable" delay by QK Meats in Naas in notifying his department of its discovery of horse DNA in imported meat until weeks after the Europe-wide crisis broke.

Speaking in the Dail on the release of an official report into the horse-meat scandal, Mr Coveney criticised QK Meats, which is part of the Queally family's food empire, for "knowingly withholding information about problems in the supply chain".

Yet Lancashire County Council have nothing to say about the matter. From a dithering Tory-led government to a dithering Tory local government.

Labour's shadow minister Mary Creagh @marycreagh_mp tweeted :

QK meats, Ireland had positive test for horse on 27th June 2012 yet continued to buy Polish beef for 400 EUR a tonne cheaper than Irish beef. They (who supplied horse to birds eye and Lancashire Schools) failed to test other products and inform Irish govt of positive DNA tests for horse. Inexcusable. They supplied horse meat in cottage pies supplied to 47 UK schools recalled 8th March. Hope Lancashire children get justice from all this.

There must now be a clear case for Lancashire County Council to consider legal action against QK Meats and Dawn Fresh yet it I fear it be a long wait before aqny action is taken by County Hall.

LCC taxpayers’ money has been used to buy a contaminated and fraudulent product. The Council may not have a legal responsibility to check and guarantee the quality of the meat, but it is imperative they act decisively and transparently on behalf on Lancashire residents when processes have been shown to fail.

People need jobs

Dear Graham,

We have a crisis of youth unemployment in Britain. With nearly one million young people out of work and long-term unemployment far too high, we urgently need a plan to get people back to work.

David Cameron's Government either can't or won't find a way to do it.  Their priorities are clear: tax cuts for millionaires, tax rises and vague promises for everyone else.

A One Nation Labour Government would bring in a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee for the long term unemployed. We would fund a guaranteed job - which people would have to take up or lose benefits - for every young person out of work for a year or more and every adult out of work for over two years.

Not enough people know what's at stake. But you can change that. Share the image below.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK |  TWEET 

or forward this email to a friend

Thank you,
Liam Byrne

Raising the Participation Age - Lancashire's Tories letting parents & young people down?

This year is the first year that the Government’s changes to the age at which young people must be in education or training. This new policy, called Raising the Participation Age (RPA) will affect everyone in year 11 and below, and will mean that after the age of 16 young people must either remain in full time education, such as in a school, college or home-based learning; or they must begin an apprenticeship; or they must enter part time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering (which is defined at 20+ hours a week).

I would expect that most children and parents have received careers guidance about their September options. That secondary schools were aware of what options are available and where every child will be going to. Getting the right sort of education is vital.

Having spoken to heads and senior college staff I became concerned about the delivery of this policy at local level, and have been attempting to get information from the County Council for several months now. In itself the most worrying aspect as they seem unable to provide straight answers. I have written to them four times asking the same unanswered questions.

I first contacted LCC in December last year asking for the numbers of students that would be entering each of the post-16 streams (education, work-based learning, apprenticeships etc.). I received an incompetent reply Lancashire County Council providing me with information about last year’s school leavers across Lancashire rather than Hyndburn. Last year’s numbers are wholly irrelevant as this year, further education is mandatory and LCC must have a revised plan for increased numbers of children and the required increase in the quantity of suitable places.

I then wrote to Lancashire County Council more plainly asking how many places there are on offer so that each pupil in Hyndburn had a place in education or training at 17. I subsequently received an answer of how many children were leaving each school with no reference to whether this was last year or this year.

The reply failed to answer this basic question; what options have pupils been given for September and what plans are in place to ensure they are offered a suitable place of their choice.

I spoke to some of the schools and they did not recognise the numbers at all that were quoted. I spoke with senior staff at the college and they were concerned that no contact had been made with them - the primary providers of 16-18 education.

This is a big issue. There are clearly going to be more young people expecting places than in previous years as it is mandatory for children to stay on in further education.

I then wrote again, asking for clarity about exactly what the numbers were, and I received a response from the council which provided a table of school leavers in July 2012 and where they went onto. Those leaving in 2012 were not subject to the RPA in which begins for students finishing school in July 2013

This is level of misinformation or obfuscation is unacceptable. It would appear that Lancashire County Council is failing to manage the Raising of the Participation Age.

Parents must be given absolute clarity about where the places are for their kids. Young people will be wanting to make a decision soon and I do not want to see them suffer due to local government incompetence.

Concerns about this policy were first raised to me by teachers and parents who were worried about the relative lack of awareness that this policy was coming into force this academic year. This is a big change, a very important change to a lot of young people.

Delivery of this policy is a legal duty of Lancashire County Council who have now to ensure young people are given the best and most suitable education of their choice.

I am concerned that insufficient planning has been done, that the Government has brought in a policy that is not properly thought through at the delivery end and that the Secretary of State has taken his eye of the ball, and that LCC is not prepared for this change.

I have written a fourth letter and on the 11th April received a holding reply. These are not difficult questions; how many young people are leaving school in July; how many places and where are there available; what careers guidance has been offered parents and pupils?

As a consequence of the failure to address concerned questions by April 2013 I want to know what careers guidance has been given so far and what guarantee's are there that every young person will be able to stay on, on a course of their choice? We do not want young people pushed on to courses they do not want to do. These are real concerns.

Any failures by Lancashire County Council will result in young people and parents suffering. If the council cannot even tell me how many places there are, and where they expect young people to go then it is shambolic. If there isn't a thorough plan - and I want to see one - then the result will be serious disappointment in September for some parents and young people when the change will come into effect.

Nuisance Calls Advice Line receives over 50,000 calls every month

Nuisance calls have become a common annoyance in modern life. Every constituent I raise this issue with has had experienced of repetitive cold calling to their landline, to their mobile phone, the most recent epidemic of harrassment companies trying to recover PPI money or urge people to make compensation claims for personal injury.

News reports state that the BT’s Nuisance Calls Advice Line receives over 50,000 calls every month. It is unacceptable. People should not have suffer a plague of unwanted calls and texts.

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is operated on behalf of the Communications Regulator Ofcom. Companies are banned from making nuisance calls to people who have signed up their number to the TPS, and it has had some success in reducing nuisance calls – however this appears to have been undone in recent years because of the ability of these companies to get around the rules. The problem is that the TPS can only deal with cold calls from the UK.  Many now come from abroad. Moreover recorded messages and live calls are treated differently.

The question remains: how can these calls and any future technological telephany be prevented? These nuisance companies can be fined over £250,000 if they are proven to have broken the law. However this is either not happening often enough, or it is not a sufficient a deterrent to stop direct marketing companies from persisting. In some cases the law is not being broken, in which case it needs to be changed.

Many people have cited the fact that the responsibility for this area of regulation is split between the ICO and Ofcom and the divison is leading to nuisance calling is increasing, not decreasing.

I would like to see something directly done to tackle this, and I will be writing to the Government about this.