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Following last week’s Queen’s Speech, MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy has accused David Cameron and Nick Clegg of breaking further promises on reforming social care.

In 2010, the Coalition said they would publish legislation in the second session of this Parliament to establish a sustainable legal and financial framework for adult social care, instead they have only committed to publishing draft legislation with no reference to reforming how social care is funded.

The UK’s care system is in crisis.  45,000 people in Wigan are over 65 years old; by 2030, this figure is projected to rise to over 74,000. 22% of Wigan residents, around 69,000 people, have a long term condition.  Musculo‐Skeletal conditions, Cardio Vascular Disease and Mental Health problems account for 70% of this figure, impacting on how well people are able to live independently in their own homes and community.

This is causing terrible hardship and distress for older and disabled people, and affecting our economy, jobs and living standards too.

One million unpaid carers across England and Wales have had to give up work, or reduce their hours, because the support they need to look after family members isn’t available or is too expensive.  This costs the economy £1.3 billion every year in lost tax revenues and increased benefit bills.

Lisa Nandy MP has said:

“The Government has failed to deliver the protected budgets for social care that they promised in their spending review. Over £1 billion has been cut from local council budgets for older people’s social care since the Conservative-led Government came to power.

I will be working with the local authority to ensure that the highest possible levels of care are delivered for older and disabled people within the budgetary constraints that have been forced on them by this out of touch Government.

There are few issues more important than social care.  Even the Government’s own Office for Budget Responsibility has said our ageing population is the primary pressure on the long-term sustainability of the country’s finances.  It has warned that, without major changes, including to health and social care services, this could affect the long-term growth of our economy.

There is nothing to stop the Government – if they are serious about social care reform – committing to legislation in this session of Parliament and I will be pushing them to do so.”

Lisa was delighted to pay a visit to residents of Thorburn House and Winster House in Pemberton yesterday.

The visit was arranged by Councillors Jeannette Prescott and Paul Prescott who have worked closely with residents to improve the local area over several years.

The Councillors have been involved in activities including installing hanging baskets, getting action to clean up local green spaces, cracking down on street drinking and organising socials for the residents.

The residents asked Lisa and the Councillors several questions about national and local events.

They raised a number of topics for discussion including the Coalition’s ‘bedroom tax’ which has caused concern for many people across Wigan, and the cuts to Police services.

Lisa said “I was delighted to be able to go along and meet local Pemberton residents. It gave me a chance to hear their concerns, and see the great work they’ve been doing with their local Councillors, Jeannette and Paul, to improve their local environment.”

“They’ve promised to invite me back and I will definitely be taking them up on the offer.”   

Over 7,300 of over-75s in Wigan could save as much as £200 off their energy bills under new proposals announced by Labour. The plans would mean that energy companies are required to put all over 75s on the cheapest tariff for their electricity and gas.

Lisa Nandy MP said:

“With more than 400 tariffs on offer, it’s no surprise that 80% of people in Wigan are paying over the odds for their electricity and gas bills.

“Soaring energy bills are driving up inflation and contributing to the cost of living crisis affecting millions of families and pensioners. Labour’s plan to put all over 75s on the cheapest tariff will cut the gas and electricity bills of more than 4 million elderly pensioners, not through spending more money, but by getting our energy firms to show greater responsibility to their most vulnerable customers.”

• Energy bills are now one of the biggest cost families face. The average household now pays £1,345 per year for gas and electricity, and the typical dual fuel bill rose by more than 20% last year.

• Despite competition between different companies, the complexity of the different products on offer means that, according to the independent regulator Ofgem, 4 in 5 households (a full 80%) are paying more for their gas and electricity than the cheapest tariff would deliver.

• The Government has stated it is possible for households to save up to £200 from an annual dual fuel bill by shopping around for the lowest online rate.

• Labour is calling on the energy companies to automatically move their elderly customers – those over 75 – onto the cheapest tariff they offer for their gas and electricity. If they don’t make this happen themselves Labour is calling on the Government to legislate to bind energy companies to ensuring every year that their elderly customers are on the lowest available tariff.

Lisa Nandy MP has called for local amateur film makers to enter FILM THE HOUSE, a national competition that celebrates up-and-coming amateur film producers, directors and script writers across the UK.

Film lovers of all ages are urged to get their creative juices flowing, and submit their amateur films to FILM THE HOUSE.   Lisa will then nominate her top film from the area for the national competition, which aims to also raise awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights, film and the creative industries.

Founded by Mike Weatherley MP and supported by the British film industry, FILM THE HOUSE gives entrants the chance to win a screening of their film to industry executives at the House of Commons.

Lisa Nandy MP said:

“FILM THE HOUSE is a great opportunity for aspiring film makers of any age looking to find a way into the industry and I am sure that many of the young, creative people I have met in Wigan will want to take part. I am excited to see the films that the people of Wigan can come up with, and hope to see as many submissions as possible.”

The competition is designed to promote the wealth and variety of film in the UK. Categories include drama, thriller, action, comedy, music video, documentary, as well as a separate category for under 18s which can be any genre.

The closing date for nominations is 30th June and the winners will be announced on the 30th October at a special reception and screening of the winning film at the House of Parliament. For more information on how to apply visit www.filmthehouse.com .

Labour reveals true cost of NHS job losses in Wigan

Labour today reveals the hidden costs of redundancy pay-outs in the Wigan Borough arising from David Cameron’s NHS re-organisation.

The new figures come as a leaked report from the Department of Health confirms the full costs of the reorganisation at over £3 billion. 

New, official figures list the costs of NHS redundancies in every community during the first year of the Tory-led Government’s NHS re-organisation. Figures reveal that Wigan’s NHS has been forced to spend £749,000 laying off staff – only for many expected to be re-employed elsewhere in the system. And this is just the first phase of redundancies – further damaging figures are expected in the summer.

The new figures come as a leaked Government ‘business case’ for its Health Bill confirms the vast overall costs of the Government’s NHS reorganisation. It confirms that £22,082,584 in Wigan is being held back from NHS patient care to pay for the reorganisation, in the form of a Government-ordered 2 per cent Primary Care Trust budget hold back in 2011-12 and 2012-13 – amounting to £3.45bn across England.

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy said: “People will want to know why our local NHS has been forced to waste £749,000 on payouts only for many of the same staff to be re-employed in the new NHS organisations. This is only the first wave of redundancies – more are expected later this year and next as part of the Government’s reckless NHS re-organisation that will cost £22,082,584 in our area alone.

Wigan’s NHS is counting the cost of David Cameron’s arrogance. By pushing ahead with a re-organisation no-one wants, he is taking billions away from the NHS front-line just as it needs to focus on patient care.

“Cameron promised to protect the NHS but his back-office waste has resulted in front-line cuts, with thousands of nurses also losing their jobs since he became PM. He will never be trusted again on the NHS.”

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said: “It is nothing short of scandalous that the Prime Minister is wasting billions on a unnecessary re-organisation whilst also cutting 4,000 nurses’ jobs. 

“In Opposition, David Cameron promised no top-down re-organisation of the NHS. In office, he brought forward the biggest ever. Cameron is an NHS con-man and we will hold him to account for his betrayal of patients and staff.

“He has inflicted chaos on the NHS and patients are paying the price in longer waits and a growing postcode lottery.

“The argument in Westminster may be over but Labour is taking the battle for the NHS to every town, street and doorstep. We will be, as we have always been, the last line of defence for the NHS in your community. A vote for Labour in May is a positive vote for the NHS.”

Following a visit to the charity Wigan & Leigh People First local MP Lisa put her backing into the ‘Safer in Town’ scheme. The scheme aims to help people with a learning disability feel safe when they go about their everyday life in Wigan.

Every person joining the scheme will get a ‘Safer in Town’ fold out card. The charity are asking shops, pubs, cafes, banks, libraries and other public buildings to display a ’Safer in Town’ logo in their window.

If the person gets into any difficulty, they can go into one of these premises, where they will be helped to contact someone from the contact list on the fold out card.

Lisa is urging businesses to sign up to the scheme, Lisa said:  “There is no cost to businesses. All they have to do is help the individual contact someone using their fold out card. It’s a fantastic scheme and I hope all of Wigan’s businesses sign up to help.”

For details of the scheme contact Wigan & Leigh People First on 01942 233353 or email info@wiganandleighpeoplefirst.co.uk

Analysis by the House of Commons library of data provided by every force in England and Wales has shown a shocking cut of 334 in the number of police officers who respond to 999 emergency calls in the Greater Manchester Police Force area.

The independent police watchdog, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, considers the following units as those that respond to 999 calls: Response; Neighbourhood; Community Safety/relations; Probationers (Student Officers); Traffic; Dogs; Mounted.

It is among these units that the Greater Manchester Police area has seen a cut of 334.

Local MP Lisa said: “The blame for these cuts lies squarely with the Tory-led Government and will impact on community safety across the Wigan borough. Our Chief Constable has been put in an impossible position by this Government’s decision to cut police funding by 20%.

“We recognise savings need to be made, but the Government has doubled Labour’s cuts to police funding, and made the steepest cuts in the first two years. That’s not an attack on waste, that’s an attack on the police.

“With the loss of 334 police officers in teams that respond to 999 calls, the evidence is absolutely clear. This Government has no plan to cut crime, only to cut police officers.”

 - Over 10,000 people declare pride in protecting refugees in UK-

Lisa Nandy MP forWigan has joined British celebrities Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Jon Snow, Esther Rantzen, and Zoe Wanamaker in calling for the government to ensure refugees fleeing persecution and conflict are protected here.  

In signing the Refugee Council pledge, Lisa Nandy MP and over 10,000 people have declared they are proud theUKprotects refugees, and are now asking the government to ensure refugees fleeing abuses in countries such asSyriaandIranare able to build a new home in safety here.

The petition was presented at an event in parliament at which MPs and peers discussed the challenges facing refugees integrating in British communities, following the publication of the government’s controversial integration strategy.

Lisa Nandy MP said: “Refugees are people who have fled war, torture and persecution, and are often forced to leave their families and belongings behind to save their own lives. As a nation, we are proud of our tradition of offering safety to refugees, so we must do all we can to ensure they also feel welcome and can integrate in our communities. I am proud of efforts made in Wigan through the work of Support for Wigan Arrivals Project, SWAP, whose volunteers and staff help people fleeing persecution integrate and settle.”

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said: “We are delighted that Lisa Nandy and over 10,000 other people have signed our pledge in support of protecting refugees in the UK, 60 years after Britain signed up to the UN Convention for Refugees. We urge the government to uphold its commitment to ensuring people who have fled horrors in their own country, like those we see taking place inSyriaat the moment, are able to get the protection they need here, and can start to rebuild their lives in safety.”

Actress Emma Thompson said:  “My son escaped violence in his country, and I am thankful every single day that he did. He was able to build a new life here – we have the UN Refugee Convention to thank for that. But it isn’t easy and refugees still aren’t treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We must never forget the importance of giving people who have lost everything the chance to start again in a safe country and we can all do more to make theUK a welcoming place.”

The event marked the end of a year of celebrating 60 years of protecting refugees in the UK, with the anniversary of the UN Convention for Refugees -  the international law that protects refugees’ rights – and of the Refugee Council which has been supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UKsince 1951. For further information please visit www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/60years.

In a heated Parliamentary debate today on youth services, Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan and member of the education select committee, accused the Government Minister Tim Loughton of being delusional for maintaining that youth services had been protected by the Coalition Government.

Figures published this week show that Tory and Lib Dem councils have chosen to direct government cuts at youth services in particular.

A survey of 148 councils in England shows nearly six in ten Tory and Lib Dem councils have cut services for young people while six in ten Labour councils increased youth spending.  Wigan Local Authority has managed to increase its budget by 4% in real terms since 2008.

This comes despite the claim by Education Secretary Michael Gove that the Government is “protecting the frontline”.

Lisa Nandy, speaking in the debate today, said:

“The Minister is speaking as if youth services are in excellent shape yet the select committee has been absolutely overwhelmed by responses from people across the country who say that they are disappearing.  Out of respect for the thousands of young people across the country who have had the support of these services ripped away from them, could the Minister at least spend some time addressing the impact of his department’s cuts to this vital budget.”

She later commented:

“These figures demonstrate this Coalition’s priorities.  Whilst councils like Wigan are battling against huge government cuts, they are seeking to protect desperately needed youth services. Wigan was one of the few Councils to actually increase funding in recent years while Tory and Lib Dem councils have cut services. The new Wigan Youth Zone is just one example of Wigan’s commitment to its young people.

“By the end of April, a massive £200 million worth of cuts will have been slashed from council youth services across England.  This approach is short sighted, as investing in young people early on can save money in the long term.

“While the Tory-led Government has removed the ring-fence for youth funding, Labour councils have sought to protect support for young people.”