October 2011

My speech from Westminster Hall on the Arch Cru Compensation Scheme

Submitted by Heather on 31 October 2011 - 6:08pm

I joined a Westminster Hall debate, on the 19^th of October, to discuss with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban, the Arch Cru Compensation Scheme. The collapse of the Arch Cru fund in 2009 has left many people across the country who invested in the fund at a loss. Only in 2011 did the Capital Financial Group who directed the Arch Cru Funds declare that 70% of the net asset value of the Arch Cru Funds would be returned to investors.

In the debate I told my colleagues:

“What the 15 people in South Derbyshire who have written to me about the matter have experienced is heartbreaking. They thought that they were doing the right thing, but they have been presented with this letter by the FSA saying “Take it or leave it- 70%. You’re lucky to be getting something quickly.”

I also suggested to the Minister that a there should be a bigger inquiry into the way Financial Service Authority has been carrying out its duties.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban said:

“I express my sympathy to the many Arch Cru investors who have lost a significant amount of their savings...The Financial Service Authority has reached an agreement with the three parties responsible for the management of the UK Open Ended Investment Companies: Capita, BNY Mellon and HSBC. The package was announced in June 2011, and will pay £54million to investors.

The Minister went on to say:

“It is vital that everyone engaged in the matter – the regulator, the industry players, IFAs and others – reflects on the lessons learned.”

Arch Cru was established in 2006 to provide low-risk, cautiously, managed funds and were sold to financial independent financial advisors, and like all investments funds in UK, were regulated by the Financial Service Authority (FSA). The authorised cooperate director was Capita Financial Managers Ltd. Approximately 20,000 people invested in Arch Cru, many of them were small investors who invested retirement savings or lump sum pensions payments into the fund following advice from financial advisors. However, since the fund was suspended in March 2009 by the FSA it has been estimated that between 4,000 and 10,000 people have suffered losses.

Parliament Week is now Here!

Submitted by Heather on 31 October 2011 - 6:01pm

Parliament Week is a new, national initiative which starts today and will run until the 6th November 2011. During the week, events and activities will explore the work of Parliament and explain why the House of Commons and the House of Lords matter to everyone.

For centuries, Parliament has touched the lives of every person and community, every organisation and business throughout the UK, and yet, for many, Parliament's work, influence and history are unfamiliar. People often feel they have little to do with Parliament directly. Parliament Week will raise awareness about the role of Parliament and encourage a greater level of engagement with democracy in the UK.

The theme for this year is 'Stories of Democracy' - from the past to the present, from local to national. Members of the public are being encouraged to discover stories in their own area, getting involved if events are running locally and taking part in 'Picturing Democracy', a national photography project that encourages people to take a picture that commemorates an historical event or person that contributed to the development of democracy, or an image that represents a modern story of democracy in UK. More details can be found at www.flickr.com/groups/picturingdemocracy.

Parliament is also contributing stories, for example producing postcards about different artefacts from the Parliamentary Archives such as the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade 1807 and the Representation of the People Act 1832 which introduced wide-ranging changes to the UK's electoral system.

Parliament Week has support from a range of organisations from museums and galleries to the Hansard Society and the BBC. Events organised by the House of Commons, the House of Lords and our partners, will take place across the UK and aim to stimulate the interest of people of all ages.

I’m particular interested in getting schools from South Derbyshire involved. I will be visiting Belmont School on Friday to tell students all about Parliament and my experiences of being their local MP. I hope they find my talk interesting and I am looking forwarded to meeting them all.

I think this is a great initiative and I really want to encourage everyone to get involved. You can even keep up-to-date with the latest news and events for Parliament Week on www.parliamentweek.org and follow us on Facebookand Twitter @Parliament_Week.

I have signed an amendment to strengthen knife crime sentencing

Submitted by Heather on 28 October 2011 - 4:42pm

I am pleased to let my constituents know that I have signed an amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to ensure that anyone who uses a knife to threaten or endanger a life will be given amandatory custodial sentence.

In June the Government pledged any adult convicted of using a knife to threaten or endanger, would face a mandatory six month prison sentence. However, I supports an amendment to this law which will ensure that any 15, 16 or 17 year old who uses a knife to threaten or endanger a life will also be given amandatory custodial sentence which is proportionate to the offence and age of the offender. In short 16 and 17 year olds will face a minimum 4 month Detention and Training order, 2 months in custody, 2 months close supervision as a minimum. The Judge will also have the power to increase the level of an offender’s sentence by two month increments to a maximum of 2 years. Only under exceptional circumstances does the amendment allow courts not to impose custodial sentences.

Although we do not have a large knife crime issue in South Derbyshire I think that nationally a strong signal needs to be sent out, particularly for young people. I think it is essential that this amendment goes through. The message is clear: if you are using a knife in a threatening manner then you will be prosecuted, and you will receive a mandatory custodial sentence. I hope this change in the law will make people think twice about carrying a knife.

The amendment was tabled by Enfield North MP Nick de Bois and ensures that a credible deterrent exists to help discourage young people becoming involved with knife crime.

This amendment forms part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill which MPs will vote on, on Monday the 31^st of October.

I told the House of Commons that I welcome the clarity the new NPPF provides

Submitted by Heather on 28 October 2011 - 10:17am

On the 20^th of October I joined a House of Commons debate on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The debate was held to further discuss in detail the contents of the newly proposed National Planning Policy framework which aims to put local neighbourhoods and communities in charge of local development.

As you can see from my speech, I welcome the clarity the new National Planning Policy Framework offers different aspects of planning and development in our community. I especially look forward to the new clarity the NPPF will give to a definition of the green belt and on sustainable development. I also appreciate how the NPPF allows the National Forest to be linked to future green fields and green infrastructure areas. I think the new definitions incorporated into the NPPF will really aid local development and will help solve the problems we had previously with the last Government’s pages of documentation.

I told the House of Commons that:

“Constituents who have written to me in droves about this, will really understand the need for the clarity that we will be able to provide with this new document compared with the mess the 1,000 of pages of documentation we had before - the fact that we will have neighbourhood planning, the fact that we will have community planning - will be absolutely a utopia.”

Door to Door sellers: Safety Tips

Submitted by Heather on 27 October 2011 - 3:11pm

Although Halloween is just around the corner, tick or treaters are not the only ones who can unexpectedly turn up on our door steps. Please remember these following tips when answering the door to unexpected visitors.

Safty Tips

1) Remember official visitors should always make an appointment
2) Look through the door view or window to see who is outside
3) If you decide to open the door, put the chain or bar on first
4) Check the callers details before you let them in. Telephone the relevant information to confirm their identity.
5) Do not rely on the phone number that the caller gives to you
6) Do not feel pressurised into buying items on your doorstep, be wary of callers who may offer some kind of service. Report any unexpected traders to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06

Report anything suspicious to the police on 0345 123 3333. Also if you would like a 'Sorry no Trick or Treat' or 'No Callers' card for your window, please call into my office The Nissen Hut, Church Street, Swadlincote, DE118LF, opposite Emmanuel Church.

I debated with Transport Minister Norman Baker about Bus Services in South Derbyshire

Submitted by Heather on 27 October 2011 - 10:11am

On the 11^th of October 2011 I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on funding for rural bus services. The issue of funding for public transport has been a big concern for local councils up and down the country after the Coalition Government’s necessary deficit reduction programme has seen local authority funding reduced by up to 28%.

I told my colleagues that:

“Rural bus services were an issue before the general election and have continued to be in my constituency of wonderful South Derbyshire. The difficulty we find in our rural areas is that we can take a bus out on a Tuesday but we have to wait until Thursday to get the bus back.”

During the debate I also asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker, to consider the issue of flexible bus services. Noting particularly the example of Scropton where there are no bus facilities, with none of the three big local bus companies wanting to fill this gap in the market, because they have enough business coming from the main village of Hatton. I suggested that more should be done to provide feeder busses which could pick up residents from more rural villages and feed them into the more viable commercial bus routes.

School bus services were also given attention during the debate. Local councils have had to make difficult decisions to reduce funding for such services. In South Derbyshire buses such as the one that serves Barrow-on-Trent to Chellaston Academy may be withdrawn, however the Derbyshire County Council is currently consulting on the issue.

The Under-Secretary of State for Transport told me that he would look further into my suggestions and stressed that Community Transport could allow people to use their ‘Freedom Passes’ after 9.30 am so it is possible for a proper planned arrangement to be put in place.

I know the issues of busses has been a matter of concern in our rural parts of South Derbyshire and I am delighted that the minister has clarified that, with proper arrangements there is an opportunity for Community Buses to work to link in with the commercial services so rural isolation can be reduced. I will now take this further and hold meetings with the appropriate people.

I voted in favour of an EU referendum

Submitted by Heather on 26 October 2011 - 10:10am

For those that have been following my blog, you will know that I am deeply committed to a referendum on Europe. This is an issue I stated my views on at my selection at the open primary and the Hustings in the run up to the General Election.

Last week I was given the opportunity to sign my name to a motion which called for a debate in the House of Commons on whether there should be an EU referendum. The motion read as follows.

“This House calls upon the Government to introduce a Bill in the next session of Parliament to provide for the holding of a national referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union.

(a) should remain a member of the European Union on the current terms;
(b) leave the European Union; or
(c) re-negotiate the terms of its membership in order to create a new relationship based on trade and co-operation."

I saw the possibility of the Government holding a referendum as a great opportunity to give the British public a say on our future in the EU so fully supported the motion.

On the 24^th of October 2011 the motion came to the House of Commons to be debated. The debate began at 4:30pm and finished at 10:00pm. I told the house:

“Back in 1975, I was engaged in political work but I was also too young to have a vote. The people of South Derbyshire sent me here so that we can have votes on issues such as the one before us.”

There was of course much controversy surrounding the debate as the Government decided to vote against the motion. Arguing that now was not the time to question our relationship with Europe.

However, as I believe a referendum is necessary, as do I think, the majority of people of South Derbyshire, I decided to vote against the Government. In doing so I joined eighty of my Conservative Party colleagues. This is the first time I have rebelled.

I do not regret my decision. I think as a representative of the people of South Derbyshire I have to remain true to them and to myself and by looking at the emails and comments I have received from you, I know that a referendum on Europe is what it wanted.

Although the motion did not pass, meaning no referendum will be held on our membership of the EU anytime soon, I will not give up on putting pressure on Government to do so. I strongly believe that we need to reassess our relationship with Europe and ask the public what they really want from our European counterparts.

My comments in the Arch Cru Compensation Scheme debate in Westminster Hall

Submitted by Heather on 25 October 2011 - 4:33pm

In the debate I told my colleagues:

I also suggested to the Minister that a there should be a bigger inquiry into the way Financial Service Authority has been carrying out its duties.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban said:

The Minister went on to say:

“It is vital that everyone engaged in the matter – the regulator, the industry players, IFAs and others – reflects on the lessons learned.”

I have welcomed moves to block child access to adult content on the Internet

Submitted by Heather on 25 October 2011 - 10:33am

Fellow MPs and I have welcomed the decision by four leading Internet Service Providers - TalkTalk, Sky, BT and Virgin Media – to work together to make it easier for families to block access to internet porn.

By October 2012 these companies will offer all new internet customers a service called Active Choice where subscribers will have to choose whether to restrict the web content that their computers can receive. All of the companies already offer this filtering technology but currently subscribers do not have to choose whether to install it.

The group will also sponsor a media campaign to encourage existing customers to install the technology.

This really is a great step forward, which I hope will offer greater protection for children as they use the internet. In my opinion parents must have and use the facilities available to them to protect their children from viewing adult content on their computer screens. This is not a matter of infringing personal liberties, but families taking control and protecting their children.

Claire Perry MP, who is leading a cross-party Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Child Protection, said:

" I really welcome today’s announcement as it shows the British Internet industry are finally taking seriously the problem of children accessing adult content on the Internet.”

On August 24, more than 60 Parliamentarians launched a Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Child Protection, chaired by Claire Perry.

The inquiry will report to No.10 and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport next month and I look forward to reading the findings when they do.

Our Government is sending out a clear message: the UK is not a safe haven for traffickers

Submitted by Heather on 25 October 2011 - 9:35am

Human trafficking is a horrific crime, and I fully support the work of this Government to stop trafficking into the UK. Damian Green, the Minister for Immigration has worked effectively to strengthen Britain’s ability to deal with traffickers. Britain has already signed up to international conventions against trafficking, and as of July the Government has also published its own national strategy, which builds on previous work to help victims, by improving Britain's capacity to stop trafficking in the first place. It also provides more tools for those who are out there on the front line, tirelessly working to fight the traffickers.

The message from the British Government is clear. The UK is not a safe haven for traffickers; they will be pursued and brought to justice.

The Government is also working with source countries like China, India, Slovakia and Albania, where local authorities are educating and advising vulnerable people what to look out for. A new programme has also started in West Africa, which provides authorities with training to improve trafficking investigations and help with successful prosecutions.

Should victims be found in the UK, the National Referral Mechanism helps identify their needs quickly and offer specialist care and support through the Salvation Army. The Home Office has also protected £2 million per year to fund this victim care for adult trafficking victims.

Charities and voluntary organisations have been working closely with the Home Office to help prevent this crime, but so have private sector companies. Virgin Atlantic, for example, is now providing cabin crew with training to help them spot potential traffickers and victims.

We need to continue to work together, both Government and independent organisations, to crack down on this brutal crime which sees vulnerable people treated as commodities. I know the Government will continue to work hard on the issue.

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Welcome to my Parliamentary Website, particularly for those of you visiting for the first time, I hope you drop in regularly in the future. I hope this website allows you to see how I am representing your interests locally and nationally, working to improve South Derbyshire. This would not have been possible without your support and I thank the people of SD for electing me.

October 2011

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