Margaret Moran MP
Labour MP for Luton South

Margaret Moran broke parliamentary rules during Prime Minister’s questions last week. Despite being warned by parliamentary officials, her pride in Luton Town’s fantastic cup win won through and she proudly wore an orange and white Hatters scarf.

Margaret brought the Hatters’ win to the attention of the House saying: “It was one in the eye for the football authorities and a great boost for Luton.”

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “I applaud my honourable friend for her representation of Luton. It is true that Luton won the final and I am pleased that that has happened. The team will be back in the league soon as a result of the efforts made by good local people.”

Read the full question and answer on the Hansard website.

Margaret visited Oliver’s Bar in Castle Street this week to meet the staff and listen to their concerns about the proposed tax increase on beer. Margaret has been lobbying ministers to cut the proposed plans to impose a duty rise on beer of 2% above inflation.

She went on to visit the refurbished restaurant and pulled herself a pint in support of the campaign to Axe the Beer tax.

Margaret says:
“I have received a great deal of correspondence from local pubs and clubs in Luton telling me about their concerns with this proposed tax increase. With pubs closing at a rate of 39 per week across the country it is important during this difficult economic time that the local pub and staff are protected. That is why I am busy lobbying ministers and urging them to cut this tax.”

£1million of government funding is on its way to create a new platform and bus interchange at Stirling Place on the north-west side of the Luton’s Parkway station.

Margaret Moran, Luton South’s Labour MP said: “It will be the kick start to the development of the site which will create a hotel, 150 homes and a retail development at Stirling Place and enable the development of over 300 new affordable homes on the ex Vauxhall site.
“There will be pedestrian and bus access, providing a transport link for the planned new housing to the
east of the station. This is great news for Luton as it speeds up the development of the old Vauxhall site which will create employment and much needed affordable homes to rent, partly funded by government.

“Despite the global economic downturn Luton is well placed and has investors ready to regenerate our town .The government is playing its part by contributing to the transport infrastructure to ensure development happens as soon as possible.

“This is part of the government strategy of investing to kick start the economy. The new Luton airport parkway interchange at Stirling place, financed by cash from the community infrastructure fund for which we’ve been bidding is just the start of the development of Napier Park and the former Vauxhall site and opens up more opportunities for business in the area. We will see work starting this year and the first of the homes will be ready by March 2011”

Margaret has greeted plans for tighter regulation of bailiffs, announced by the Government recently as an important new protection for people in Luton south facing economic difficulties. Margaret has lobbied in the past for a review of bailiff practices having heard of some outrageous instances through her post bag.

To safeguard the public from cowboy bailiffs Labour is introducing:

• an on-line certificated bailiff register allowing debtors to check bailiffs’ certification status;
• an extension to the certification process to ensure that all bailiffs provide a Criminal Records Bureau check with their application;
• minimum training requirements and competences for inclusion in the certification process.

These measures will contribute to the development of a more permanent solution of independent regulation in 2012. This will form the basis of a code which will govern the industry.

Welcoming the new measures, Margaret Moran MP said:

“People have a right to recover their debts, but no-one should have the right to threaten, bully or intimidate people just to collect cash they are owed.

Regulation of bailiffs is an important part of protecting householders in disputes over debts and fines.

Labour’s decision is to take immediate action to require tougher checks on who can be a bailiff and clearer guidelines on what they can and can’t do. It will also ensure the public in Luton South are protected by having a properly regulated sector.”

From April child tax credits will increase by £150 a year and working tax credits by £90 a year.

Basic rate taxpayers will get a tax cut worth £145 a year helping 2.3 million people in the East of England.
And if you or someone in your family is expecting a child there is a new “Health in Pregnancy Grant” worth £190 for mums-to-be.

The state pension is going up by £4.55 to £95.25 from April, helping 12,790
in Luton South.

We have also increased the Pension Credit to £130 a week for single pensioners and £198 for couples helping 4,350 households in Luton South.

With the cold winter, it was more important than ever that this year there was a Winter Fuel Payment of £250 for the over 60s and £400 for those over 80.

Margaret Moran MP said:

“I am determined that families in Luton will not be left to cope on their own. If you or a loved one loses their job, there will be support from day one. People will not be left behind like they were in previous recessions. There is now practical help if you lose your job with one to one support and advice and free new training courses available.

“Having a baby is an exciting time for mums and their families. Whether it’s your first time or you’re having another child there is loads of planning to do and things to get sorted. And from getting a pushchair to stocking up on nappies, there are bills to pay.

“To get the grant mums to be will need to get a claim form from their midwife or doctor. So I would urge mums to do this as soon as possible.

“I’m proud that children and families are at the heart of Labour’s policies, but especially so during these tough times. This cash boost will make a real difference to families in Luton.”

Home Secretary asks Margaret Moran MP to work with Luton businesses on knife crime

A new campaign aimed at tackling knife crime is being backed by Margaret Moran MP.
Margaret Moran is encouraging all local retailers who stock knives to back the pledge.

“By stopping under-18s getting access to knives in the first place, we can help to stop knife crime. The knife crime pledge is an important part of the Government’s strategy to tackle knife crime and I am delighted that the Home Secretary has asked me to work with local retailers to find out how the measures are working.

“We will only tackle knife crime in Luton by working together. I hope that all local businesses who sell knives will sign up to the pledge.”

The six points of the pledge are:

• provide training to staff on the sale of knives
• display signs stating that knives are not for sale to under-18s
• ensure that display and storage of knives minimises the risk of theft;
• ensure till prompts are in place to remind staff at the point of sale;
• enhance safeguards on internet sales to address attempted underage sale of knives; and
• monitor attempted underage sales and share information with local police and other partners.

Margaret welcomed the Budget as delivering real help now to get people, especially young people, quickly back into work, and support businesses and homeowners facing problems in Luton.

The Budget also supports investment in the growth industries of the future on which Britain’s success will be built.

Speaking shortly after the Chancellor delivered the 2009 Budget, Margaret said:

“We know that if we don’t act now, it will cost us all more in the long run. I welcome today’s Budget with its focus on jobs now and jobs in the future.

“Building on the support already coming through – from an income tax and VAT cut – the measures in the Budget will help us deal in Luton with the economic difficulties and support jobs, families, businesses and the environment.

“We have the confidence to invest in the recovery – and not talk Britain down.”

The Budget announced

• support for employment: including for Jobcentre Plus and the Flexible New Deal, and the offer a guaranteed job, training or work placement for all 18-24 year olds who reach 12 months unemployed;
• support for individuals: including through an increase in the annual investment limit for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to £10,200, up to £5,100 of which can be saved in cash; an additional payment alongside the Winter Fuel Payment worth £100 for households with someone aged over 80 and £50 for households with someone aged over 60 – which will support over 15,000 people in this constituency;
  Pension Credit: increasing the capital disregard on the level of savings that are not taken into account when calculating entitlement, from November 2009, from £6,000 to £10,000. The Pension Credit helps 5,450 people in this constituency.
• support for homeowners and homebuyers: including with a £600 million funding package of measures to build more homes, and an extension of the stamp duty holiday for all houses costing up to £175,000 until the end of the year;
• support for the environment: including setting the world’s first carbon budgets and measures to encourage energy efficiency and low-carbon growth.

Margaret Moran MP yesterday welcomed the Chancellors announcement to help the UK motor industry with ‘Cash for Banger’ scheme.

The vehicle scrappage scheme, which will enable consumers who scrap vehicles older than ten years to replace them with new vehicles at a discount of £2,000, will be of real benefit for the IBC plant in Luton which provides around 2,000 jobs to local people.

Ms Moran said;

“The sector is one of Britain’s leading manufacturing industries, and if the economy is to be rebalanced then vehicle production should be key. Car manufacturers in Luton, and across the country, have been hit hard by the recession, but this incentive will deliver a real boost for the industry and bring confidence back into the market. This is good news for the IBC plant and its workers.”

Similar schemes have been applied in other European countries with significant success, especially in Germany where sales have risen by 40% and the government has expanded the scheme.

The Guardian have produced a Budget Calculator, so you can see how your personal finances will be affected by the changes made in the Budget. Go to www.guardian.co.uk/money/interactive/2009/apr/22/2009-budget-calculator.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent out a message to celebrate Easter.

The Prime Minister says:

“I wanted to extend my warm best wishes to you and your family as you celebrate Easter.
In churches all over Britain people will gather in fellowship to celebrate the hope they have found in the story of the resurrection.”

Read The Prime Minister’s full message (pdf)

Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent out a message for Passover.

The Prime Minister says:

“This story that you retell at the seder table each year is at the heart of what is so special about the Jewish community and the great contribution you have made to Britain.”

Read The Prime Minister’s full message (pdf)