Newsletter from Katy Clark
Our busy MP includes the following items in her monthly newsletter.
Unemployment in North Ayrshire
With unemployment continuing to rise in North Ayrshire I met with the Scottish Secretary, Michael Moore MP, just before Christmas to discuss unemployment and the Ayrshire economy. Mr Moore has agreed to visit North Ayrshire in the near future to discuss what more can be done to assist the economy of North Ayrshire and Arran.
Trade Union Activities
I voted against the Trade Union Officials (Refund of Pay to Employers) Bill which was brought by Tory backbencher, Jesse Norman MP and was pleased that the Bill was defeated 211 votes to 132. This Bill would have meant that unions would have to pay back wages which has been paid to public sector employees while doing union work.
The Welfare Reform Bill
The Government took a triple defeat on their plans to overhaul the benefits system in the Lords last week. Peers defeated plans to means-test employment and support allowance (ESA) after just a year for disabled people including those suffering from cancer or recovering from a stroke. The Government was also defeated on plans to time limit ESA for people going through cancer treatment and limiting access to ESA for young people. Whilst the Government have said they will reverse the defeats when the Bill returns to the House of Commons I am pleased that this will mean there will be more votes in the Commons and more chances for the Government to be defeated on their plans.
Meeting with Palestinian Leader
On Monday I took part in a meeting with the President of the National Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and MPs in the House of Commons. Mr Abbas is on a visit to the United Kingdom as a guest of the Government to discuss peace talks which are currently taking place between the Israeli Government and the National Palestinian Authority. Last year Mr. Abbas tried to secure recognition for Palestinian as an independent state at the United Nations but this bid has been put on hold due to a lack of support from members of the Security Council, including the United Kingdom.
Equality for Veterans
I have agreed to Chair the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Equalities for Veterans’ Pensions which had its inaugural meeting this month. Veterans from HM Armed Forces who left service before 1975 are not entitled to a military pension unless they served 22 years in other ranks or 16 years as an officer. Hundreds of thousands of veterans today, therefore, are not entitled to a military pension. The group seeks to debate and discuss the existing discrepancies in pension rights for veterans, to raise awareness and to encourage the Government into action on the issue.
Pub Companies
In a recent report by the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, of which I am a member, concern was expressed about the contracts between pub companies and the tenants who run the pubs. The contracts mean tenants are forced to buy beer at inflated prices from the pub company compared to on the open market. CAMRA estimates that between Dec 2010 and June 2011 14 pubs closed a week and of them 9 were beer-tied pubs but disappointingly the Government have said they will not take action on this matter. I am very concerned that this trend will continue and welcome the debate in Parliament on this matter.
