News

350 couples with children in part-time work in the Wigan constituency could lose around £4,000 a year from this April, following a change to tax credit rules being introduced by the government.

Lisa Nandy MP is urging the Conservative-led government to reconsider a little-noticed change to tax credit rules which means almost 27,000 families across the North West will lose all of their working tax credits unless they can significantly increase their working hours.

The change means that couples with children earning less than around £17,700 will need to increase the number of hours they work from a minimum of 16 to 24 hours per week or they will lose all their working tax credit of £3,870 per year.

Government figures show 635 children across Wigan will lose out in April.

A recent survey by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development found that one in five organisations have cut back on the number of hours that people work as a result of the economic downturn, with just 6 per cent increasing them.

Lisa Nandy MP for Wigan, said:

“This is a deeply unfair change from a government that is increasingly out of touch with parents feeling the squeeze and struggling to juggle work and family life.

“Raising taxes and cutting spending too far and too fast has seen unemployment rise and the economy go into reverse, and many employers are cutting people’s hours. In this climate, very few people in part-time work will find be able to increase their hours by up to 50 per cent. And for a couple with children losing around £4,000 a year, or £75 a week, this change could mean that going out to work makes no sense.  That makes no economic sense at all. The government urgently needs to think again.”

As part of Big Energy Week, Lisa Nandy is joining forces with Consumer Focus and Energy UK to raise awareness on how consumers can save money by better insulation and ensuring they are on the best tariff.

Taking advantage of free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation offered by energy suppliers can save consumers an average £120 off their bill every year, and switching to direct debit alone could save around a further £100 each year.

Updated Government figures show that 9.6 million homes don’t have enough loft insulation and 7.8 million do not have enough cavity wall insulation – that’s one in every four homes.

Every major supplier is offering free or cut price deals for loft and cavity insulation, yet not enough people are claiming these deals. Currently 100,000 households are taking up these deals each month when some 200,000 households could be taking advantage of them.

Lisa is urging Wiganers to contact their energy suppliers and ask if they qualify for free or discounted insulation and ask them to check if they are on the best tariff for them.

For more information, visit the Citizen’s Advice website here: http://tinyurl.com/7sd85fo

This week Wigan MP Lisa Nandy signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons with the Holocaust Memorial Trust. In doing so she pledged her commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honoured those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday January 27th will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history. In signing the Book of Commitment Lisa Nandy paid tribute to the extraordinary men and women who having survived the Holocaust, work to educate young people about what they endured, through the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Outreach programme.

The Wigan MP said: “It is vital that young people in Wigan know about the history of this tragic event and about the extraordinary lives of those that suffered during the holocaust and of the brave men and women that risked their own lives to liberate them. The memory of the Holocaust should inspire all people to speak out against prejudice and bigotry wherever they see it.”

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This year, people will also be encouraged to take a stand against racism and prejudice today – and to speak out against hatred wherever they encounter it.

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “We are proud that Lisa Nandy is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day this year. It is vitally important that we both remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust – as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge all forms of bigotry.”

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, believes as many as 1,200 stillbirths every year in the UK could be avoided. Wigan MP, Lisa Nandy attended a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies’ Deaths: what needs to be done.

Every year 6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth in the UK. The charity’s report proposes that 1,200 babies’ lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death.

Lisa, pictured at Wednesday’s event with constituent and Sands supporter Louise Walton, pledged her support for the Sands campaign,“I was shocked to discover the scale of baby deaths in the UK. Seventeen babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day, with stillbirth being the largest contributor to child deaths under the age of five years. These deaths have a devastating impact on parents and their families, and I fully support Sands in their call for urgent action to prevent baby deaths in the future.”

The Report highlights that advances in neonatal medicine have led to small but welcome reductions in the number of newborn babies dying, however, Sands remains extremely concerned by the UK’s persistently high stillbirth rates; stillbirth numbers in the UK are the same today as they were in the late 1990s, with 1 in 200 babies being stillborn. The UK has one of the highest stillbirth rates when compared to similar high income countries, yet Sands strongly believes that with the appropriate commitment and investment in research and improved care, a reduction in these rates is achievable and should be a key focus for all those concerned with maternity services.

Neal Long, Chief Executive of Sands, addressed MPs at the parliamentary reception, “A third of stillborn babies – around 1,200 babies – are perfectly formed and born at gestations when they might safely be delivered. But routine antenatal care is failing to detect far too many babies who need help. These babies’ deaths are those that Sands, researchers and clinicians working in obstetrics, believe are avoidable deaths. “We want to see a real national commitment to tackling this ignored tragedy and preventing all avoidable baby deaths in the future. We want lives saved and families spared the desperate heartbreak of losing their precious baby.”

Sands Preventing Babies’ Deaths Report outlines the key issues contributing to baby deaths in the UK and the action we believe is needed to prevent deaths in the future. Read the full report at www.uk-sands.org

Lisa Nandy MP and Yvonne Fovargue MP today helped the fight to save lives this winter in the Wigan Borough by signing up to the Age UK Winter Pledge.

Last year nearly 22,000 people aged over 65 in England and Wales died unnecessarily during the winter and Lisa and Yvonne agree with Age UK that this figure is a disgraceful waste of life. In the North West there were 3920 excess winter deaths.

Lisa Nandy MP said:

“We have one of the worst levels of unnecessary winter deaths in Europe – with each day on average over 200 succumbing to the effects of the cold weather. The number of older people who do not survive the winter here is far higher than in most European countries, including those where the weather is far colder.”

Yvonne Fovargue MP said:

“By both signing the Age UK pledge, we are committing to working with the charity to help ensure all our older constituents are prepared for winter by knowing the dangers of cold weather and how they can guard against them.”

John McArdle, Chief Officer of Wigan Age UK said:

“We are delighted that Lisa and Yvonne have joined our fight to reduce this shocking waste of life.  We know that behind the excess winter deaths figures lie deep-seated social issues with over 5 million households living in fuel poverty and one in three older people living in housing that is poorly insulated.”

By signing up to the Age UK pledge Lisa and Yvonne are committing to:

• Raising awareness of the dangers to health of cold weather and cold homes
• Working with their local Age UK to tackle the local priorities for older people
• Challenging energy providers to produce simple tariffs to make it easier for people to lower their bills.
• Promoting preventative measures that older people can take before a cold spell
• Encouraging all sectors of the local community to make tackling excess winter deaths a priority
• Ensuring that all their constituents are prepared for winter

Age UK is working in partnership with the Met Office to alert vulnerable older people when a cold snap is expected, sending out key messages on how to keep warm and well.

The pledge is part of Age UK’s annual Spread the Warmth campaign. The Charity and its local and national partners are aiming to make winter warmer for 360,000 older people by providing information, advice and practical services to help keep warm and well in the colder winter months, preventing many thousands from being left isolated and alone. These include getting warm and nutritious meals to older people, helping to keep homes warm, and giving free information and advice 365 days a year.

Older people and their families can call Age UK Advice for free on 0800 169 65 65, where they can also order a free copy of ‘Winter Wrapped Up’, a guide funded by E.ON. Alternatively they can visit www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk to download the guide, get more information about Spread the Warmth and find out where their local Age UK office or shop is. There will be lots of ways to help Age UK Spread the Warmth this winter. People can make a donation simply by calling 0800 169 87 87 or visiting www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk.

Lisa Nandy MP for Wigan is supporting The Stroke Association’s campaign to encourage the nation to know more about their stroke risks.

It is estimated that around 1700 people in Wigan are living with the after effects of stroke, and although not all strokes can be prevented a lot can be done to minimise your risk.

Lisa Nandy MP attended a Stroke Prevention event hosted by The Stroke Association in the House of Commons on this month.  She commented:

‘I’m delighted to support The Stroke Association and I’m encouraging everyone to know more about their stroke risks.  A lot can be done to minimise your risk of a stroke.   For example making a few healthy lifestyle choices such as eating a balanced diet, drinking alcohol in moderation, and taking regular exercise can all help to prevent a stroke.’

Stroke services and protecting yourself against the possibility of suffering from a stroke is a particular issue in Wigan.  The rate for emergency admissions for stroke in the Wigan borough is significantly higher than the England and North West averages, at 527 per year. Stroke mortality rates are also significantly higher in the area as are the estimated percentages of smokers and obese people

Lisa Nandy said further:

“I’d like to urge everyone to make a New Year’s resolution to find out what you can do to lower your risk of stroke.  Visit The Stroke Association’s website at www.stroke.org.uk or make an appointment to see your GP to assess your risk.”

Patrick Olszowski, External Affairs Manager for The Stroke Association says;

“Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke.  However a huge proportion of these strokes could be avoided if more people took action and controlled some of the major risk factors.

“High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor, and 40% of strokes could be cut if more people had their blood pressure checked regularly. Many people suffer from an irregular heartbeat which can increase your risk by up to five times.  Importantly, this can also be treated and your risk of stroke can be minimised.”

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted. Stroke is the third biggest killer and the leading cause of severe disability in the UK with an estimated 150,000 people having a stroke each year. But the chances of many people having a stroke can be reduced by understanding stroke risk factors and taking action to prevent a stroke happening.

Following a passionate discussion at a recent Parliamentary Rugby League Group meeting, Members of the Group have decided to challenge the BBC’s proposed cuts to local sports coverage, as well as the approach the BBC has taken in making clear just what those consequences mean.

During the meeting, the Group heard from RFL Chairman Richard Lewis, veteran broadcaster Ray French, Head of BBC Sport for English Regions Charles Runcie and BBC London rugby league producer and commentator Ian Ramsdale.

Wigan MP, Lisa Nandy said after the meeting:

“This meeting brought home just how significant the proposed changes to BBC local radio are.  There have been debates in Parliament on the cuts to local radio services, but for rugby league – which is recognised as one of the most community-focussed sports in the UK – the consequences could be devastating.”

If all the proposals made in the consultation are enacted, it will result in:

• The loss of local programmes on weekday afternoons, with programmes being shared with neighbouring stations;
• The loss of all local programming between 7pm and 10pm.  This means the end of any sports magazine shows, in-depth discussion about sport and the opportunity to have opinions heard, engage with clubs, officials and others involved in the game;
• Significant loss of live commentary as there will be a massive reduction in the number of games covered and with the reduction in the number of commentators at games that are broadcast any local flavour disappears;
• The loss of all local programming between 1am until the start of the breakfast show. All stations would broadcast Radio 5 Live;
• The loss of a wide number of locally-split breakfast programmes; and
• Huge costs to any local station that wants to offer live coverage of more than one game matches of any sport as stations will be charged to use the medium wave band.

“As a Group, we are challenging the way the BBC has gone about consulting with the public on such an important issue as well as the proposals they are suggesting” added Lisa.

“We have written to Mark Thompson from the BBC and Chris Patten from the BBC Trust and we have contacted other sports-related Parliamentary Groups asking to join us to raise these issues directly.”

For more information, visit the news section on the Group’s website: www.apprlg.org.uk

Survey also reveals A-level students considering cheapest options or not going to university

The number of people applying to university in the North West has dropped by 13.9% compared to this time last year, according to new figures released today by the university admissions service UCAS.

The University and College Union (UCU) said the figures were particularly worrying when put alongside results of a survey released today that shows the increase in university fees is putting 10% of A-level students off applying to university. Around half of the youngsters polled said they would consider a university closer to home or one abroad with cheaper fees to save cash.

Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan said:

These figures are a clear indication of the impact of the hike in tuition fees on Wigan and the North West.  I have been inundated with letters, emails and phone calls from students who are terrified about their future in the face of crippling debt.  The government must simply do more to help young people into further and higher education and provide opportunities for an entire generation that will otherwise be lost.

UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said:

The government’s fees policy has been a disaster from the start and it is clearly having a serious impact on the choices young people make. Now is the time for a rethink to avoid doing serious damage to universities and young people’s futures.

People should study the right course for them, not just the cheapest one or none at all. These depressing figures take us back to the time when it was cost, not ability, that determined your future.

For more on the university applications figures visit http://www.ucas.ac.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2011/20111024

For more on the survey of A-level students visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15392743

Labour MP Lisa Nandy has revealed the hidden cost of the Government’s wasteful NHS reorganisation in the Wigan area. New guidelines will force the local NHS to put aside £22, 082,548 from their budget this year and next to pay for a costly NHS restructure that David Cameron had previously ruled out.

Lisa blasted the Coalition Government’s reckless attitude to the NHS saying:

“These shocking new figures show the Government’s reorganisation is costing the NHS even more than we first feared. It is scandalous that they are telling our local NHS to hold back millions of pounds for their own reckless plans whilst thousands of nursing jobs are being axed.

“The borough has already seen a 40% increase in the number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment since Cameron became Prime Minister.

“Before his plans are even fully through Parliament, David Cameron’s reorganisation is hitting the NHS hard and costs are now topping £3.4bn across the country for the first time. Spending this amount on an unnecessary reorganisation is totally unjustifiable when every single penny should be focused on maintaining standards of care.

“At the election Cameron ruled out top-down NHS reorganisations. But only weeks after entering Number 10, he back-tracked and ordered the biggest and most dangerous upheaval of the NHS since it began.”

The financial request is buried in the Government’s new NHS ‘Operating Framework’ document and takes the nationwide cost of the NHS reorganisation above previous estimates of £2-3bn, with Primary Care Trusts now holding back £3.44bn over two years.

Last Thursday evening leading doctors from the British Medical Association voted to call for an immediate halt to the Government’s costly and controversial Health Bill.

Lisa added:

“The people of Wigan did not vote for it and our doctors, nurses and patients have already expressed huge concerns at the plans. Yet Cameron is ploughing on with his Health Bill, ignoring public and professional opinion. The time has come for him to listen, put the NHS first and drop his dangerous Bill.”

Labour is running a major national drive to call on the Government to drop its unwanted Health Bill and people are being urged to add their name to the Government online petition by Dr Kailash Chand at epetitions.direct.gov.uk

Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement today Lisa Nandy MP said:

People across Wigan know the Government’s economic plan is not working. Experts have confirmed that the economy is growing at an alarmingly slow rate, public borrowing is up and job losses are set to increase.

Families are paying three times as much as the banks for the financial crisis. The Government’s policies have harmed families and businesses across Wigan and today’s announcements offer little hope.

Wigan has one of the highest rates of young people out of education, employment and training. The Government’s youth contract, offering subsidised work placements is far too little too late. Young people need lasting paid jobs and help to stay in education. Instead of investing in real programmes to get Britain’s youth working, the Chancellor has chosen to invest an extra £600m in just 100 new free schools across the country.

At a time when many people in Wigan are worried about losing their jobs, their Government is reducing their right to unfair dismissal, slashing health and safety regulations and changing redundancy rules. This, alongside a projected 700,000 public sector job losses, will mean many employees in both the public and private sector could lose their jobs with little or nothing to fall back on.

The Government should urgently change course before more people in Wigan and across the country feel the pain.