Siôn Simon MP

Following reports in last nights evening mail, I wanted to make it perfectly clear that I do support nw legislation to control clamping and the greedy unethical individuals that profit out of other peoples misery.

I have supported several of my constituents with cases over this matter and will continue to do so, when approached by Erdington Residents.

I am in agreement with my fellow colleagues that a revised legislation is needed and will and will be supporting any future campaigns on this matter.

Erdington MP Siôn Simon today welcomed Justice Secretary Jack Straw’s announcement to the Labour Party Conference that the Government plans to make community sentences more visible to the public.  Under plans, offenders will be made wear high visibility jackets while carrying out community sentences.  The plans form part of wider reform efforts aimed at opening up the justice system.

Mr Simon has been working closely on crime and justice issues as part of a review of law and order he was asked to carry out by the Prime Minister.  In response to the justice secretary’s announcement, he said:

“Working on the law and order review, I talked to local residents, police officers, neighbourhood watch groups and a number of other local organisations to ask what they thought needed to be done to ensure that not only is justice done, but also that it is seen to be done.

At present the justice system can seem remote and unresponsive to the concerns of ordinary people. The Government must bring justice back home to the community, so that people can see justice in action and know that offenders are paying a penalty for their crimes.  I believe that the measures announced by Jack Straw will be an important step towards achieving this.”

Siôn was the guest speaker at Highclare School assembly this week.  Highclare School is based in what was a Benedictine Abbey and is now a grade II listed building.  During the assembly Siôn spoke about the role of an MP and our system of Parliamentary democracy.  He outlined his path from university to Parliament and talked about his previous life as a newspaper columnist. Children of all ages then quizzed Mr Simon about life in Westminster and his work in the constituency.

Mr Simon said: “The invitation to address the school assembly was the result of a visit to the school earlier in the year, so it is good to be invited back.  I am pleased to see that the school clearly values academic achievement.  Highclare School encourages a wide range of extra curricular activities including music and sport.  I know students here will get a well rounded education that will stand them in good stead for the future.”

Siôn took time out this week to meet with the New Life Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of disabled children. Badged as ’specialists for special children’ the foundation offers a range of support to children with disabilities and their families, including supporting medical research, providing a nurse service; where families can email or call a nurse for a range of specialist advice to providing grants for essential equipment.

Speaking after the meeting Siôn said:

“It is clear that New Life is doing key work in supporting disabled children and their families, I know that several local Erdington families have received grants which have made a huge difference to quality of life. I am keen to support the work they do in anyway I can, and would encourage families who need support to contact the foundation.”

The foundation is holding a county launch event on November the 12th at the Botanical Gardens which aims to educate people about the work of the charity.

Sanita Guddu of the New Life Foundation added:

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet Siôn Simon who clearly wants to make a difference to disabled children. We are delighted that Sion is endorsing our work and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

Birmingham Erdington MP Sion Simon saw how his constituents are benefiting from union led learning during a visit to the learning centre at Erdington Fire Station today. He met union learning reps from the Fire Brigades Union and Unison as well as learners and his constituents were keen to tell him about how they had improved their skills at the learning centre.  During the day staff will have opportunities to undergo assessments so they can begin courses, there will be one to one sessions with staff from City College and Merlin Venture and a course will be run for local unemployed people to get help with interview skills and CV building.  One of the union learning reps Erdington Fire Station, Leanne Byrnne, has gone on to mentor clients with dyslexia within the local community.

Unionlearn Regional Manager Mary Alys, Frank Sheehan CBE, as well as union learning reps from Unison and the FBU accompanied Sion on the visit and highlighted the achievements of union led learning in workplaces in the Midlands. Unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation, has supported the project with funding from the Union Learn fund.

Sion Simon MP said: ”I’m delighted to visit the Fire Station to see how my constituents are benefiting from improving their skills. The FBU and Unison are working extremely well in partnership with the Fire Service to run courses and help people to learn new skills and confidence which will benefit them, their families and their communities.”

Mary Alys, Unionlearn Regional Manager, said: “This is a great example of who unionlearn is working in partnership with unions and employers to make workplace learning accessible to union members in Birmingham. I am delighted that Sion Simon, the local MP has been able to see first hand the excellent work done by union learning reps.  they are part of the network of over 20 000 union learning reps across the country.  The Union Learning Fund is making hundreds of projects like this possible.”    

£130 million of funding has been provided for small voluntary organisations. The grassroots scheme is designed to help organisations who work within the community with an income of less than £20 000 per year.

The programme funded by the office of the Third Sector, part of the Cabinet Office is administering the fund, and has made awards across the country to foundations charged with allocating the funding.

The Birmingham Foundation will be allocating grants of between £250 and £5000 to grassroots organisations, and will be looking for groups to come forward.

Whether it’s helping local clubs get hold of new kit, coaching new volunteers or simply giving the community hall a lick of paint, the grassroots grant aims to make a real and immediate difference to the work of any small and local community groups.

Sion Said:

“This is a great scheme, it will really help all the hard working groups in our communities that need just a bit of funding to make a huge difference. The scheme is specifically designed to reduce the amount of red tape group’s face when applying for even the smallest amounts of funding. I certainly hope that groups in Erdington will apply and urge people to contact the Birmingham Foundations for more information.

Erdington MP Sion Simon has congratulated everyone involved with the Erdington in Bloom project which has won a silver award in the national competition.

Sion said:

“I am delighted that Erdington has a won a silver award in this year’s competition. A lot of hard work by residents and shop keepers has gone into this year with both Osborne and St Barnabus schools getting involved. Whilst clearly there is much more much work to be done on improving the faculties of the High Street, this is a step in the right direction and will help to raise the profile of Erdington as a whole.

Erdington MP Sion Simon met Graham Burton, Secretary of Unisons Birmingham Colleges branch this week. The branch was formed in 2005 to represent the union’s members working in the nine colleges across Birmingham.

Mr Burton raised concerns about the desire to merge Matthew Boulton College and Sutton College. Both colleges are financially sound, so the other reason for a merger would be to benefit the students.

Mr Simon said:

“The proposed merger would create a ’super college’ responsible for educating thousands of students, particularly from North Birmingham. For such a merger to go ahead we must be sure that the interests of staff, whether teaching or non teaching, are looked after. It is also vital to make sure that the merger is in the interests of all potential students in the North Birmingham area. All over 16’s should have access to a top quality further education in their own community. I don’t want to see students in Erdington miss out on the opportunities afforded by a good education just because they don’t live in Sutton Coldfield or the City Centre.”

Sion Simon MP for Erdington welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Erdington’s Jaguar Plant  today.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by Cabinet colleagues John Hutton, Secreatary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory reform and John Denham MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Before taking a tour of Jaguar’s highly advanced manufacturing facility, the Prime Minister and team met and talked with over 60 young apprentices.  Jaguar’s advanced Modern Apprenticeships help to ensure that the company has the sort of high quality staff that will keep it at the forefront of the premier car market in the future.

Sion commented:

It was a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister to Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant.  I know he was impressed with our state of the art manufacturing facility and the ability and eagerness of the young apprentices he spoke to.  He and his Cabinet colleagues witnessed first hand the result of the investment Jaguar had made here in it’s facilities and it’s workforce.  It is the kind of long term investment that will help keep the West Midlands at the leading edge of the high tech manufacturing industry, and provide quality employment for the highly skilled workers of Erdington.

Erdington Mp Sion Simon, today urged local solicitors to take part in Novembers Will Aid campaign.

Will Aid has a simple yet compelling objective, to help everyone put their affairs in order by drawing up a will and at the same time help the Will Aid charity.

Sion said:

” Most people do realise that they should write a will and keep it updated but, as solicitors know, many simply do not get around to it and as a result their loved ones can suffer after their death.  Will Aid publicises the importance of making a proper will with a solicitor and raises awareness of what can happen if a person dies intestate.  It seems to me that Will Aid is a most effective campaign because it provides the motivation many people need to make their Will and raises vital funds for the charities involved.  I would like to encourage more local solicitors to participate.”

Will Aid solicitors have the chance to acheive so much by giving their skill and time to write basic “Wills in exchange for a charity donation from the client.

The scheme couldn’t be easier for solciitors to operate.  During November, instead of charging for drawing up a basic Will, Will Aid solicitors will waive their usual fee and hope instead that their client will donate the fee they would normally have been charged to the Will Aid charities.  The suggested minimum donation is £75 for a single Will.

The money raised is shared between the participating charities:  ActionAid, Britich Red Cross, Christian Aid, Help the Aged, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, Sight Savers International, SCIAF and Trocaire.  This means that participating solicitors will be helping to supply people with life’s essentials like clean drinking water, food and health care.  They will be giving children the oppertunities to learn and grow up in safety asa well as providing vulnerable elderly people with the support they need.  They will be helping people to live, build their communties and improve their facilties.

Will Aid is one of the UK’s most effective fundraising campaigns.  Since the campaign began in 1988, solicitors have helped raise almost  £7 Million in donations.  Tens of millions more have also been pledged in legacies to the Will Aid charities, helping to ensure that their vital work can continue to help future generations.

Solicitors wishing to take part or to find out more about the scheme, should telephone the campaign office on 01460 271178, visit the website www.willaid.org.uk or email enquiries@willaid.org.uk