Margaret is standing up for small businesses in Luton by asking the government to take urgent action to help those suffering during the recent credit crunch.
Margaret raised the issues at a special Adjournment Debate in the Commons on Wednesday, and spoke in the Chamber in the Economics debate last week.
Margaret is supporting government moves to get Judges to recognise the difficulties home owners face in paying their mortgages during the credit crunch.
Ms Moran MP says Judges should only sanction repossession orders as a last resort and wants to see new guidance issued to them. Ms Moran MP welcomed the moves by Government to support those in mortgage difficulty by requiring banks to do all they can to cushion the blow to struggling homeowners.
Margaret has today congratulated the Johnston Press Plc for saying it would stop advertisements in papers that promote “adult entertainment” establishments.
Margaret, who sits on the Home Affairs Select Committee, has heard evidence that human trafficking for the sex trade is encouraged by “adult entertainment” establishments, many of which place advertisements in local papers. She wrote to local newspapers to ask if they would impose a ban on such advertisements.
“Dustbin Snoopers”, “Town Hall Pooper Spy” screamed the headlines over the summer as papers decried incidents of creative use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act by councils across Britain, 75% of which have reportedly used provisions from the act over the past year to spy on residents and tackle minor disturbances. Certainly not what we envisaged as we struggled through the bill.
We heard tales from ICT companies who believed RIPA foretold the end of the industry in the UK and that they would be forced abroad if the UK government took a hard line on encryption keys. So imagine my surprise on a recent visit with the Home Affairs Select Committee to India to hear that India’s RIPA equivalent has effectively forced the ICT industry there to act illegally!
Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent out a message to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights.
The Prime Minister said “During this great festival of lights I know that people will be spending time with friends and family and reflecting on all that has been achieved by our many diverse communities here in Britain. As Hindus, Sikhs and Jains each mark this wonderful occasion we can all look forward with hope and optimism to everything that we can achieve working together.”
Diwali Mubarak.
Margaret is calling on newspapers and magazines to stop publishing advertisements for “adult entertainment establishments” to help stamp out sex trafficking.
She has written to newspaper proprietors locally and nationally to personally stop advertisements in papers that promote “adult entertainment” establishments.
Luton South MP, Margaret Moran, is lobbying immigration and education Ministers to provide protection for foreign students who get caught out in a fake college scam.
The Colleges get students from India or Africa to pay as much as £40,000 for a so called “degree” course at a named college, and the students find after paying over the money that the colleges do not exist.
Margaret has published the Luton South Antisocial Behaviour handbook: your guide to the law, to help constituents know their rights and help them to combat crime and antisocial behaviour.
This handbook is designed to help you deal with problems you may face in your street or in your
community.
Download a free sample of the handbook. (pdf document)
The National Minimum Wage is going up again to help people during the economic crisis. The rate is rising to £5.73 per hour for workers aged 22 and over, £4.77 for 18-21 year olds and £3.53 for those aged 16 and 17.
Welcoming the news Margaret said:
“I became an MP to fight for the rights of working people in Luton and across the country. The minimum wage is one of Labour’s proudest achievements in Government.
And when families are struggling with rising fuel, energy and food prices it is more important than ever to have a rising National Minimum Wage. To me it’s pretty simple, if you believe in fairness, you should support the National Minimum Wage.”
Ms Moran also sent out a warning to rogue employers that they will be punished for not paying the National Minimum Wage.
“With the National Minimum Wage there is no excuse not to pay up. If you think a rogue employer is not paying up then get in touch with me on 01582 731 882 or call the national minimum wage helpline on 0845 6000 678.
“I will also vote for the Government’s Employment Bill which will be going through Parliament. It will mean we can take even tougher action on rogue employers with serious cases going to a Crown Court.
Ms Moran sends a simple message to employers in the town: Con workers in Luton South and you will face tough action. There are no excuses not to pay the National Minimum Wage.”
© Copyright 2008 Margaret Moran. All Rights Reserved
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