Margaret Moran MP
Labour MP for Luton South

Margaret Moran has welcomed the decision of the Housing Minister John Healey to step up Government efforts to help struggling homeowners in Luton get a grip on their finances and avoid the trauma of repossession.

Luton has been identified as a hotspot area considered at greater risk due to levels of unemployment and numbers of court orders for repossessions. As such the government is encouraging people in Luton to seek mortgage help and advice.

Margaret Moran says: “I’m encouraged that the government is bringing in new rules that insist that mortgage lenders must inform the council when repossession actions are started against residents in Luton. This will allow the council to step in and offer advice and help for those most in need. This includes help with mortgage interest payments, the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme and in particular the Mortgage Rescue Scheme which is now being offered by the council. This shows that the government is treating repossession as a last resort only. ”

The Government’s campaign will be extended into 2010, giving free and impartial advice both online and over the phone offering help for those families most in need.

Homeowners can go to www.direct.gov.uk/mortgagehelp or call the National Debtline free on 0808 808 4000.

To date, more than 300,000 families nationwide have benefited from a range of advice and support the Government has put in place during the recession.

“This seems to be good news for the workers at the Luton Plant and I hope ultimately the right decision.
I recently wrote to Lord Mandelson on the issue of Vauxhall job retention in Luton and received assurances that the Government will secure the best possible outcome. I welcome the intervention of the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson who told the GM Chief Executive that Britain would financially support a “long-term, commercially viable business plan”. This could be in the region of £270M although no figure has been officially quoted. I shall continue to press the government on this matter.”

Following concern raised in the local press that Margaret Moran’s illness has stopped her constituents from accessing the services of their MP, the Luton South Constituency Office has released figures that show that hundreds of local people are being helped by the office.

Over the course of the last few months from May to October Margaret Moran’s office has handled hundreds of cases, of which over 350 were larger or more complex pieces of casework.

Typical issues that Margaret Moran’s office has helped local people with include housing, social security, child support agency and policing matters.

A Spokesperson for Margaret Moran MP said:

“These figures show we have never stopped giving the people of Luton South a top-level service. We are there to take your calls and enquiries in a professional and friendly manner with a proven track record of a quality service.

“Any rumours to the contrary are untrue and simply cause agitation to local people who might be worried that they won’t be able to get the help they need. Additionally despite recent assertions, we refute the claims that the Conservative candidate has been working with this office. This is simply untrue and pure opportunism.

“We will continue to work hard to provide Luton residents the service they deserve.”

I am sorry that, due to ill health, I have not been able to carry out my parliamentary and constituency duties to the extent I would wish, and accordingly apologise to my constituents in Luton South.

I am very grateful to the people of Luton South for electing me three times and I will be returning to Westminster to represent you as soon as the doctors allow me to.

My Luton and Westminster offices are fully functional and continue to assist numerous constituents with their concerns and problems. We can be contacted as usual in any one of a number of ways;

By phone on 01582 731882 Luton office or 02072195049 Westminster

By post; 93 Castle Street, Luton LU1 3AJ or House of Commons, Westminster London SW1A OAA

By fax 01582731885 Luton or 02072195094