Siôn Simon MP

The Labour Government has called in the credit card companies to call on them to stop unfair massive interest hikes that we are seeing from some lenders.

Whilst most credit card companies act responsibly, we are seeing recent evidence of pockets of bad practice where some lenders are hiking up people’s rates massively without adequate notice or any justifiable explanation claiming that they now pose a higher risk.

The Government wants to stop these unfair practices, and if we do not see evidence of credit card companies stamping these out the Government will refer them to the Office of Fair Trading-the consumer watchdog who have recently been given tough new enforcement powers to outlaw unfair lending practices.

Siôn Simon MP:

“At a time when families are really struggling through this downturn the last thing they need is unfair massive interest rate hikes on their existing debt and with next to no notice.  There can be no justification for some of the evidence we are seeing of people having their interest rate doubled overnight and without any justified explanation.”

“Any credit card lenders indulging in this practice to boost their own balance sheets need to stop it and stop it now.  If they don’t they should know these practices will face investigation and action.”

“It is an issue of fairness that if credit card companies impose large rate increases they should be giving people alternative options and giving them proper notice of any changes so they have time to shop around for another deal or bring down their balance.  They should also treat people in difficulty at this tough time sympathetically and fairly in giving them breathing space to get back on their feet.”

During the first National Colleges Week, Labour MP and Minster for Further Education Siôn Simon encouraged people to improve their job prospects in the current economic climate by taking up training to learn new skills or brush up on existing ones.

Siôn Said:

“With 8 million adults already saying they want to improve their skills, I’d encourage people in Erdington to think about whether taking up a college course could help them get the skills they need to get on in these tough economic times.”

Senior Minister and Skills Secretary John Denham said:

“Research like this shows that many people are looking for ways to change their lives.  In these challenging times, Labour has made radical changes to and unprecedented investment in the training and skills system to allow more people than ever before to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

“Colleges play a vital role in this.  They not only train people so they can get a job or get on at work, they give people the opportunity to enjoy a much loved pastime and improve peoples basic skills, such as literacy, so they can lead  a fuller life.”

Siôn went on to say: 

“Colleges week is a great way for institutions up and down the country to showcase this work and celebrate their success.”

Over 300 colleges across England are involved in helping people gain qualifications while they work through the Train to Gain service.  This week a high profile government advertising campaign kicks off to promote the benefit of training to small businesses to help then survive the credit crunch – by giving every employee the skills to succeed.

Siôn Simon MP welcomed the announcement today of 6,000 new front line staff for JobCentre Plus across the UK, as part of a £1.3bn package of measures announced by the Labour Government to help people get back to work.

Labour’s Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell MP set out real help for job seekers, including:

• Employing an additional 6000 frontline staff within the JobCentre Plus network.
• The suspension of the 25 JobCentre PLus closures currently planned across the country.
• More cash for flexible New Deal contracts with the voluntary and private sector.
• Doubling the money for the ‘Rapid Response Service’ that intervenes in areas where redundancies are announced.

Siôn Simon MP said:

“This money can make a real difference in our community.  I know that times are tough and that people are worried about losing their job.  That’s why it’s exactly right that the Government has promised to get more staff onto the front line.”

“In Birmingham and Solihull, we already have 1723 staff committed to helping people to find work, but I welcome the news that there will be more staff across the country, getting on with providing real help for people looking for a job.”

James Purnell MP, Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

“Over the last nine months, we have been preparing JobCentre Plus to handle the rise in job seekers that we are seeing today, but we are ready to do more to help people in Birmingham back into work.  This new money announced means that over the next year we can provide real help for people facing unemployment at every stage.”

“For those who are facing redundancies, for those who have just lost their jobs, and for those who are more distant from the labour market, we will increase resources available to provide real help in these tough times.”

“Because we have learnt the mistakes of the downturn in the 80’s and 90’s the Labour Government will take real action to provide help for people to get back to work quickly.”

Siôn Simon, Labour MP for Erdington, today welcomed the pre budget report as real help for people and businesses through tough time.

“These are exceptional times and they require exceptional measures.  What families and businesses need is real help now.  The Labour Government is taking action to help families and businesses through the tough times caused by the global credit crunch.  BY helping people now and putting money into economy we will come out of this sooner and stronger,” Said Siôn.

The measures announced in this crucial mini budget include; a one year cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15% effective immediately in order to ease the pressure of Christmas spending; instructions to banks to give struggling homeowners three months grace before repossesion proceedings start and an extension of government-backed mortgage rescue schemes, which aim to keep low income borrows in their homes.

The Chancellor also announced that the top rate of income tax would be raised from 40p to 45p in the pound after the next general election, whilst there will be a targeted tax cut for people on low incomes benefiting an estimated 22 million basic rate tax payers through changes to the personal allowance.

In Erdington it is estimated that over 6500 pensions will benefit from the announced rise in Pension Credit and 12 400 families from the rise in the child tax credit. Carers too will benefit from a £60 Christmas Bonus, along with pensioners and those on incapacity and disability allowance.

Mr Simon added: “This is a comprehensive package of measures which will ensure those on low income and vulnerable groups are given the support they need whilst stimulating our economy to help us out of this economic down turn.  This pre budget report shows the Government is behaving responsibly and taking the right action”

Siôn Simon, Erdington MP is urging local businesses in the area to enter the UK’s most prestigious business awards scheme.  Firms have until January 29th to enter the battle for the ‘Best UK Business’ at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards (MX) 2009.

Dubbed the Oscars of the business world, MX is free for any firm to enter and is the only best practice benchmarking scheme of its kind to offer an elite panel of industry experts giving up to £20 000 worth of free, impartial advice.  Deadline for entries is January 29th 2009.

“I would encourage any firms, of any size, to enter the MX awards. Latest Government figures show SME’s make up 95% of the UK’s manufacturing industry and 99% of businesses in the UK and MX offers firms coaching and support from the leading industry experts.”

“There is a ’Top Tips’ programme to show firms how they can win one of 13 coveted MX trophies.  MX is known as the international hallmark of best practice and we, as MP’s, should be supporting manufacturing and these companies” commented Siôn Simon.  

He went on to say “MX is unique because each year it goes out and demonstrates, time and time again, that improving the skills base and empowering people inside a company delivers better products and processes, more satisfied customers and, ultimately, improved profitability”.

There are 13 ‘Oscars’ up for grabs including Best Overall Business, Best SME, Sustainable Manufacturing, Product Innovation, People Effectiveness, Customer Focus, Best Financial Management, and Best Business Education Partnerships.  Finalists get a chance to attend the prestigious ceremony on 25th June 2009 at the Dorchester in London where winners will be unveiled.

Firms interested in entering should visit www.mxawards.org or email h_morgan@imeche.org

Local Post Offices received a boost today as the Labour Government awarded the contract for the Post Office Card Account service to the Post Office.  The news will be welcomed by local Post Offices that rely on the business people picking up their pensions or benefits through the Post Office Card Account brings into branches.  Around 10,210 people in Erdington have their accounts with the Post Office.

Welcoming the news Siôn Simon MP thanked local people for campaigning with him on this issue.

“This is great news for the Post Office.  I recently met with the Post Office to discuss this issue and I am delighted the Government has listened to what I have been saying on behalf of local people.  I would like to thank everyone who stood up for local Post Offices and made their voices heard.”

“With the financial crisis that started with the American banks now being felt here in Britain, people are feeling worried about their finances.  Post Offices are often the only providers of banking services in local areas so this vote of confidence in the Post Office is very welcome.”

Local MP Siôn Simon today welcomes the Government announcement that more than 1500 primary schools in England will be rebuilt over the next two years. 

The Government announced £3.55bn for rebuilding primary schools over the next two years.  Birmingham has already been allocated funding for the 2009 – 2010 financial year and is set to work with Government ministers over the next twelve months to fine tune the details.

Speaking after the announcement was made by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, Siôn said

“I am delighted at this announcement; it is just another example of how the government are continuing to deliver on the promise of more money for education and schools.”

“Which schools will benefit is still being announced as I understand work will continue with the City Council over the next twelve months to ensure the best use is made of the money, but I am certainly looking forward to hearing what is in store for Erdington.”

Local Erdington MP Siôn Simon this week exposed the dramatic failings of the housing department, when a resident of Kingstanding was left with no gas supply to her home for three months after the council failed to pay the connection bill.

Mrs Learmond, moved in to the property in July but was told it was supplied with gas cooking facilities and heating.  However when she moved in she discovered it was not connected to the national gas supply, leaving her with no cooking or heating facilities.

Speaking about the case Mr Simon commented “this lady is in a terrible state and I have been doing all I can to help her, she has no real heating and can not cook for her family, all because the council did not pay the bill.  It is bad enough that this happened once but it has happened on three occasions, the national gas grid have cancelled the job three times because the council did not pay the bill.”

“Mrs Learmond is not asking for much, just that she be able to feed her family and keep them warm.  She is ready to pay a connection charge herself, but until the gas piping is run into the property there is nothing she can do.”

“I have to ask what an earth is happening with the housing department.  What worries me most is that this would never have come to light If I hadn’t got involved, but to make matters worse the council couldn’t even get her name right, they have recorded the property as rented by Mrs Leonard!  It has to be asked how many other cases like this are there we don’t know about.“

Erdington MP Siôn Simon was delighted to re open the new Database centre on Castle Vale recently.  The centre located at The Sanctuary, has undergone a refurbishment and is able to offer after school and holiday facilities for more young people than ever now.

The Database Centre is focused on IT provisions and the expansion of young people’s skills, whilst offering a safe place to hang out rather than on the streets.

“This is exactly the sort of facility we need more of all over Erdington” Siôn commented, “it is really important young people have a safe environment in which to socialise, but the Database Centre is even more special because it offers opportunities to brush up on IT skills and access the internet”

Siôn Simon MP for Erdington, this week joined Battle of Britain veterans in paying tribute to their former Commander, Sir Keith Park, with the unveiling of a statue in his honour.  The unveiling at City Hall in London, marks a step in the campaign to have a full scale statue of Parks placed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square for 6 months in 2009.  The Sir Keith Memorial Campaign then hopes to follow this by placing a permanent installation of a memorial statue in Waterloo Place.

Speaking after the event Mr Simon said:

“I was honoured to meet the veterans and to celebrate the life of Sir Keith Park.  As an MP for Erdington, the former home of the Castle Bromwich Spitfire factory, I wanted to express my gratitude to these brave men.  Erdington was once essential in supporting these pilots during the war.  Our Castle Bromwich factory produced 59% of Spitfires and other local factories also produced vital components.  The pilots are now veterans and they deserve our support once again as they try to honour the achievements of their former commander Sir Keith Park.  I will do all that I can to assist the Sir Keith Memorial campaign.  Our historic link with such brave men will not be broken.”