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24 February 2013 10:20

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In this edition:
Greg Hands M.P.s Diary Website of the Week: Chelsea Physic Garden Photo news: Hands presents intern certificates to Chelsea Academy pupils Hands: employment levels at record high and Chelsea & Fulham jobless numbers drop too Photo news: Reception to mark 20 years since Slovak independence Hands: Getting households a fair deal on their energy bills Photo news: Campaigning in Eastleigh Hands praises new education focus in youth justice system Photo news: Oswald Stoll Foundation Night Flights Consultation News from Gregs Surgery K&C proposes Council Tax freeze; H&F proposes Council Tax cut Reducing taxpayer subsidy for spare bedrooms is morally right, says H&F Council Early years Expansion gets major boost in Hammersmith & Fulham Free green advice in K&C for keeping your home energy efficient Hands in the papers: Constituency Matters column Hands in the papers How to contact Greg Hands M.P.

Issue 363 Sunday 24th February 2013

Since the last edition, Greg:

Called news that the NHSs review of North West London hospitals will save Chelsea & Westminsters A&E and will create a specialist health and social care hospital at Charing Cross as a step in the right direction. However, Greg will be examining the latest proposals in more detail, which will almost certainly be reviewed by the NHSs Independent Reconfiguration Panel in due course. Attended and addressed the annual general meeting of the Kings Road Association of Chelsea Residents (or KRACR). Topics raised included Crossrail 2, basement excavations and Thames Waters Super Sewer. Met senior management of the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital to discuss their reactions ot the NHSs review of A&E services and other matters. Campaigned for the Conservative candidate in the Eastleigh parliamentary by-election. For more, see photos below. Visited the Chelsea Physic Garden to see their specialist education event Chocolate Tuesday, with all about how chocolate is grown and cultivated. See website of the week. Visited the Stoll Foundation on Fulham Road, SW6, to see the latest in their efforts to provide a welfare hub for veterans as well as 250 homes for ex-servicemen and women. See photo below. Held a weekly surgery for Chelsea and Fulham residents at the Fulham Methodist Church, Fulham Broadway. Gregs surgeries are held generally every Monday at Fulham Methodist Church, or at Peter Jones, Sloane Square. To make an appointment, email mail@greghands.com or call 020 7219 5448.

Website of the Week:

www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
The website of the Chelsea Physic Garden, which has something for everyone botanists, other scientists, local historians and children and families. The Garden is closed for a few weeks for essential works, but why not register today for a tour or activity in April.

Photo news:

Hands presents intern certificates to Chelsea Academy pupils

Greg Hands M.P. awarding community intern certificates to Chelsea Academy pupils Wura Ogunsola and Madalene Garcia Marin at a meeting of the Kings Road Association of Chelsea Residents (KRACR) this week.

Hands: employment levels at record high and Chelsea & Fulham jobless numbers drop too
Greg Hands M.P. has hailed this weeks good news on employment, which is up again nationally and in Chelsea and Fulham. Employment figures released by the Office for National Statistics show the largest annual rise in employment in over two decades. The number of people in work for this period rose by 154,000 compared to the previous quarter, taking total employment in the UK to 29.7 million. It has risen by 880,000 since the general election in 2010. This was mirrored locally, where employment rose and the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance fell. The number of claimants in Chelsea and Fulham was down again and is now 168 lower than in January 2012. Across the UK, the number of claimants has dropped to 1.54 million. Since the general election, the number of people claiming the main out-of-work benefits has fallen by over 230,000. This is also true for young people and youth employment has risen. There are now 3.7 million 16-24 year-olds in employment, which is an increase of 29,000 on the previous quarter. Commenting, Greg Hands M.P. said: This is further confirmation of things looking up in Chelsea and Fulham. Welfare reform and a strong economic policy are having their effect. Im delighted that so many people locally now have the chance to work and get on in life. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith said: "The fall in long-term unemployment is particularly welcome and shows that the training and support we are offering is helping people move off benefits and into work. "These figures show another big increase in full-time jobs, half a million more British people in work over the past year and more women in employment than ever before.

Photo news:

Reception to mark 20 years since Slovak independence

Greg Hands M.P. with William Hague and Slovak guests at the reception he hosted last week in the Commons, celebrating 20 years since Slovak independence.

Hands: Getting households a fair deal on their energy bills

Cheaper energy bills for people across Chelsea and Fulham came one step closer this week with Ofgems reforms to the energy market. These reforms follow the plans set out by the Prime Minister last year to ensure that consumers get the cheapest deal. Ofgems reforms endorse the proposals in the Governments Energy Bill, which is currently in parliament. They include: Making the market simpler by restricting suppliers to offering four simple core tariffs per fuel type. Requiring suppliers to give all their customers personalised information on the cheapest tariff they offer for them. New rules which require suppliers to send clear bills that are easier for customers to understand. Ofgems reforms will be in place by this summer. The Government Energy Bill will underpin these reforms and ensure that all customers are getting the best deal on their energy bills by 2014. Commenting, Greg Hands M.P. said: I know that people across Chelsea and Fulham are concerned about their energy bills and it is right that action is being taken to bring them down. Ofgems reforms take a big step in the right direction, and follow the Prime Ministers promise last year to get the lowest tariffs for consumers. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: I made a personal commitment to help get energy bills down - and I'm delighted that Ofgem are taking that forward. The package announced today is a huge step towards energy bills that are fairer for everyone. This is about putting people before profits. It's about pensioners being better able to heat their homes in winter, and families better able to cope when the bills arrive.

Photo news:

Campaigning in Eastleigh

Greg Hands M.P. campaigning in Eastleigh for next week's By-Election.

Hands praises new education focus in youth justice system

Greg Hands M.P. has welcomed new proposals from Conservative Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, to help young offenders turn their backs on crime. The new plans, published yesterday, mark a radically different approach. Transforming Youth Custody: Putting Education at the Heart of Detention aims to deliver value for the taxpayer, reduce reoffending and set young offenders on the path to a better life. The aim is to learn the lessons of education reform and have Secure Colleges provide education in a period of detention, rather than detention with education as an afterthought. Already, the Free Schools and Academies programmes have brought improvements in education standards well above the national average and turned around some of the worst-performing secondary schools in the country. The Government wants to draw on this experience and bring new expertise and providers into the market to improve outcomes for young people in custody. The current system needs reform: In the 12 months to June 2012, some 3,645 young offenders received a custodial sentence. The average cost of a youth custodial place is 100,000 a year, with some as much as 200,000. The vast majority of 15-17 year olds in Young Offender Institutions have been excluded from school at some point. Half of those in this age group are assessed as having the literacy levels to that expected of a 7 -11 year old. When young offenders leave custody, 73 per cent reoffend within a year. Professionals from the education sector, custodial services and organisations with an interest in young people are among those being consulted on the complete transformation of youth custody. Launching the paper, Chris Grayling said: We cannot go on just doing more of the same, pouring more money into a system doesn't work in the hope of a different outcome. That doesnt make any sense to the taxpayer, or to the young people who we should be trying to get back on the straight and narrow. Greg Hands M.P. added: It is absolutely vital that we tackle reoffending. If we can succeed in turning troubled young people away from a life of crime, and cut reoffending rates, that will mean less crime, fewer victims and safer communities. By putting education at the heart of the approach we can help young offenders to get on in life and make a contribution to society. I urge local youth charities and other interested groups in Chelsea and Fulham to make submissions so that the views from our area can form part of the policy making process. The full consultation document can be read here.

Photo news:

Oswald Stoll Foundation

Greg Hands M.P. at the Oswald Stoll Foundation building, Fulham Road, with Ed Tytherleigh and Nick Miller from the Foundation, which provides 250 homes for ex-servicemen and women, as well as a welfare hub for veterans.

Night Flights Consultation

The Government has announced the launch of its consultation on the future of night flights which is set to run until 22nd April. In 2012 the Government decided to maintain the current night flights regime, which allows for a set number of flights to take off and land at airports between 11 pm and 6 am, until 2014. Like many Chelsea & Fulham residents, Greg also lives underneath the flight path and is woken up by aircraft noise in the middle of the night many nights. The argument for night flights revolves around the convenience each night of a few thousand passengers travelling from Hong Kong and Singapore, who would otherwise have to board their flights after midnight. Whilst Greg understands that business between London and the Far East is very important, he finds it unacceptable that the convenience of millions of London and South East residents under the flight path is sacrificed. This consultation is your opportunity to say that night flights should be brought to an end. A number of the questions on the consultation are very technical, detailed and not directly relevant to night flights but do feel free to reply to those questions you find most important. The consultation is available to view and reply to by following this link: Night Flights Consultation.

News from Gregs Surgery

This Monday, Greg Hands held his Fulham surgery at the Broadway Methodist Church, discussing issues and concerns, ranging from the Valuation Office to hospital care, with nine constituents. One constituent, who had suffered a stroke some months ago, discussed with Greg the difficulties he faced in travelling around the area and the suitability of his accommodation. Greg has raised this gentlemans case with the Royal Boroughs Housing Department so that they may give the constituent more assistance and advice in moving to a groundfloor property. This should also allow this Chelsea resident to keep a scooter in his home and gain some independence. If constituents believe their Member of Parliament can assist with their problem Greg is keen to hear from them. Greg said: I hold my surgeries almost every week of the year and I aim to solve the problem, or at least get my constituents an answer. To make an appointment contact me on mail@greghands.com or call 0207 219 5448.

K&C proposes Council Tax freeze; H&F proposes Council Tax cut
Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell outlines the budget for 2013/14 which freezes council tax for a fourth year and lists the major projects to enhance the Royal Borough in the year ahead. Watch his short film (3 min 30).

Reducing taxpayer subsidy for spare bedrooms is morally right, says H&F Council
Reducing the taxpayer subsidy for social housing tenants who are living in homes too large for their needs has been described as morally right by one prominent West London council. Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council argues that the national policy is a crucial step towards reducing the country's 23billion-a-year housing benefit bill, while helping to ease the shortage of family-sized homes for people who really need them. Under new Government regulations, from April, working age social housing tenants assessed as having one extra bedroom in their home will see their housing benefit reduced by 14%. Those with two or more spare bedrooms will receive 25% less. H&F Council has some of the cheapest social rents in inner-London. Around three quarters of its tenants do not pay the amount in full as they are entitled to housing benefit. It costs 122 per week to rent a council three-bedroom home, while a similar property in the private rental sector costs an incredible 770 to rent. A five bedroom home costs 140 to rent from the council while its equivalent in the private sector costs 1,335. Cllr Andrew Johnson, H&F cabinet member for housing, said: At a time when the nation is broke, it is completely unfair for social housing tenants to receive a large taxpayer subsidy to live in oversized homes while hard working residents renting in the private sector, or paying a hefty mortgage, pay through the nose and can only dream of affording a spare room. We simply have to reduce the housing benefits bill which hard working taxpayers fork out for." However, the Council insists that the new government rules need to be applied fairly and has set up a housing payment scheme for exceptional cases. For example, if a spare room has been turned into a sensory room for a disabled child. The Council is encouraging people who live in social housing that is too big for their needs to downsize so it can be freed up for families who really need the space. H&F Council believes that 824 of its tenants will be affected by the changes. The council has been working with these tenants since October 2011 and at their request, is looking to rehouse 48 households into smaller and more appropriate accommodation. From this month, H&F Council is no longer granting new social housing tenancies for life except for elderly or vulnerable people. Instead, all new tenancies will be for five years, or two years in some circumstances. This means that when a tenancy is coming to its natural end, the council will be able to find a smaller home for those who find themselves underoccupying, perhaps through a child leaving home.

Early years Expansion gets major boost in Hammersmith & Fulham

A major boost for children and families in Hammersmith & Fulham has been announced today with proposals for around 1,100 new free nursery places across the borough. The places will be created in the boroughs existing childrens centres and independent nurseries, and with childminders using 2.8m in government funding. The extra places will provide eligible two-year-olds with 570 hours of free early childhood education over the course of a year giving them a real head start and offering working parents the childcare they need. By 2014, 40 per cent of two-year-olds in the borough will receive a free nursery place. The news comes on top of the continued expansion of early years services which has seen the number of sessions at childrens centres double since 2011 and visits have reached an all-time high of almost 20,000. The cabinet is also being asked to approve the extension of all contracts with current providers in H&Fs 16 childrens centres for up to two years. This will allow more detailed discussions with existing providers over where the additional nursery places could be provided. Cabinet member for childrens services, Cllr Helen Binmore, said: This is a massive expansion of our early childhood services and will offer services to more two-year-olds than ever before. Even in these difficult financial times, this proves how committed this council is to giving our most vulnerable families and working parents the support they need and is another excellent way of helping to give our boroughs young children the best possible start in life. Alongside the expansion in nursery places, the Government is changing the ring-fencing arrangements for early years services grants to give local authorities more flexibility to improve local services. This is accompanied by a change in the Ofsted inspection arrangements which in H&F will mean groups of centre being inspected together, reducing the inspection burden on local services. It will mean only six inspections will be needed in H&F instead of each individual centre being assessed.

Free green advice in K&C for keeping your home energy efficient
Residents who want to make their homes greener and more energy efficient can get advice and find out if they qualify for a free `green deal assessment' at two events being organised by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, The events take place to mark Climate Week which runs from Saturday 2nd March to Sunday 10th March. On Saturday 2 March there is an open house from 10am to 2pm at the Tabernacle, Powis Square, Notting Hill, where Council officers will be on hand with information about renewable energy in the home and climate-friendly and cost-effective food choices. On Tuesday 5th March planning and environment officers will be on hand in Committee Room Three in Kensington Town Hall to discuss how residents can take advantage of the Green Deal and renewable energy, and outline the potential planning implications. Residents can also learn how to lessen the environmental impact of the food they buy and consume. Both events are free and booking is not required. The Royal Borough is offering a limited number of free assessments to help residents determine if they can take advantage of the Green Deal. The Green Deal is a Government initiative which is seeking to help people make their homes more energy efficient, without having to pay money upfront for the improvements. The Royal Borough's Deputy Leader, Cllr Nick Paget-Brown, said: "This is an ideal opportunity for residents who want to find out how they make their home more energy efficient."

Hands in the papers:

Constituency Matters column

Greg Hands M.P., Hammersmith & Fulham Chonricle Friday 22nd February 2013 Chronicle readers will have seen in the last few weeks some huge developments in Britains relationship with the EU, or European Union. David Camerons much-anticipated speech called for a new model for countries outside the Euro and promised a referendum. A future Conservative Government will renegotiate our EU membership, taking back powers from Brussels, while also extending the single market. The public will then be given the choice: remain in the EU on the new terms or leave altogether. Every Chronicle reader will finally get the say they deserve. When Labour broke their referendum pledge on the Lisbon Treaty, I helped lead the I Want A Referendum campaign. Its time to decide our place in an EU thats become fundamentally different to the Common Market we chose to join in the 1970s. Of course, youll need to vote Conservative first: the other parties are still refusing to give you a say, or cant win in a UK General Election. The first ever cut to the EU budget is an historic victory, demonstrating that Britain can make alliances and force change. It is a sign of things to come. Like the Prime Minister, I want Britain to stay in the EU, on terms that we can afford and which work for Britains national interests.

Hands in the papers:

Hickey, The Express Thursday 21st February 2013 Following yesterday's item about The Smiths forbidding David Cameron from enjoying their music, Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham Greg Hands declares: "The PM should renounce The Smiths and start rediscovering true Tory Eighties' bands Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran." Spandau's lead singer Tony Hadley is certainly a confirmed admirer of Margaret Thatcher and has said: "What we need is for David Cameron to be like Thatcher, to say, 'Enough is enough, things have gone too far'. Five-year mandatory sentences for carrying a knife and 10 years for carrying a gun." The political affiliations of Duran's Simon Le Bon are not known but his wife Yasmin, pictured, revealed in an interview once that she was not in favour of the EU. "I don't see the need to try and unify this many countries. What's wrong with being a different country?" Never mind the Tories, is Ukip aware of this potential supporter?

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: By email: By post: In person: 020 7219 5448 mail@greghands.com Greg Hands M.P. House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Greg Hands M.P.s weekly surgery

www.greghands.com

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