8/12/2019 News Bulletin from Greg Hands MP 406

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/news-bulletin-from-greg-hands-mp-406 1/1

From: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.comSubject: News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #406

Date: 15 June 2014 14:11To: news@greghands.com

In this edition:

Greg Hands M.P.’s Diary Website of the Week:Crosslight Debt Advice Photo news:Crosslight Debt Advice Health Secretary slams

Andrew Slaughter for ‘irresponsible’scaremongering over Charing Cross A&EDepartment Labour’s plans for ‘triplewhammy’ of property andbusiness taxes: Chelseaand Fulham could be one of hardest hit areas Greg Hands MP: more jobsmeans more security for people who want to workhard, and get on, inChelsea and Fulham Last Call for Views onCrossrail Two station onKing's Road New Mayor for the Royal

Borough How to contactGreg Hands MP

Issue 406 - Sunday 15th June 2014

Since the last edition, Greg:

Met Fulham community l eaders from the Carnwath Roadpartnership to discuss the campaign to fight the ThamesTideway Tunnel (or Super Sewer) coming to Fulham.Visited Crosslight Debt Advice service in Chelsea, to seehow the Holy Trinity Brompton offshoot serv ice provides debtadvice in both Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith &Fulham, and to see how Greg can assist in th eir further efforts.For photo, see below.Met directors from the English National Ballet School inCh elsea to hear their concerns abo ut visa legislation which isaff ecting their ability to recruit from o utside the E.U.Met leaders of t he Fresh Start Proje ct , which is seeking to re-calibrate Britain’ s relationship with th e European Union.Carried out his d uties as the Treasur er of the Royal Householdby accompanying H.M. The Queen during the BuckinghamPalace Royal Garden party.Welcomed the Romanian Speaker and ParliamentaryPresident, Valeriu Zgonea, to Chelsea, for discussions aboutUK-Romanian relations and the key effort being played byRomania in combatting human trafficking, and theGovernment’s Modern Day Slavery Bill .Welcomed the Minister Counsellor from the Serbian Embassy,Nebojsa Radojicic, to the House of Commons to discuss issuesfacing the Serbian community in the UK , which is centred inFulham.Carried out his duties as the Conservative Party andGovernment’s Deputy Chief Whip .Held a regular, weekly, advice surgery for local Chelsea andFulham residents, at Fulham Library, on Fulham Road, close toParsons Green tube. Greg’s surgeries are generally weekly, onMonday mornings, at either Fulham Library, or Peter Jones,Sloane Square, Chelsea. To make an appointment, emailmail@greghands.com or telephone 020 7219 5448.

Website of the Week:www.crosslightadvice.org

Crosslight Debt Advice is an independant debt and money advicecharity which exists to help anyone suffering under the burden of debt, whatever the cause. Their service is completely FREE, andthey offer advice, education, practical assistance, and ongoingsupport to anyone who needs it, regardless of background or circumstance. Greg saw them in action this week in Chelsea.

Photo news:Crosslight Debt Advice

Greg Hands MP meeting with volunteers from Crosslight DebtAdvice, based at St Augustine’s Church, Queen’s Gate.

Health Secretary slams Andrew Slaughterfor ‘irresponsible’ scaremongering overCharing Cross A&E Department The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has publicly condemned AndrewSlaughter’s irresponsible campaign on Charing Cross Hospital’s

Accident and Emergency department, during Health Questions in theHouse of Commons Chamber today. For several months now, Andrew Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, has been using the issue of Charing Cross as ascaremongering tactic to misleadingly claim that the A&E departmentwould be closed. This despite the fact its future having beenguaranteed by both David Cameron and Health Secretary, JeremyHunt. During last month’s local elections, Labour ran an entirely negativecampaign, focusing on the Charing Cross Hospital. Labour claimedthat the hospital would be “demolished”, without giving the importantfact that it would be replaced by an entirely new building on the same

site, with an Accident & Emergency unit. The Labour Party distributeda dramatic image of the Grim Reaper looming over a Charing CrossHospital tombstone. Responding to a question on the future of Charing Cross A&E, JeremyHunt told Slaughter: “Can I point out to him that the way he hascampaigned on these issues has been totally irresponsible. He put out leaflets in the local election campaign, saying that Charing CrossHospital will be demolished, what he failed to mention that it wasgoing to be rebuilt as a brand new hospital, with an A&E department.When it is re-opened, I hope he doesn’t get invited unless heapologises to his constituents for the way he has presented thisissue.” Greg Hands MP, who represents the neighbouring constituency of Chelsea and Fulham, which is also served by Charing Cross, wasalso in the Commons Chamber to listen to the exchange, and later commented: “Charing Cross Hospital and its A&E is important, andserves many thousands of my constituents. I have long beenconcerned by the misinformation that Andrew Slaughter and hisaccomplices in the local Labour party have been putting out CharingCross. Slaughter is well aware that the NHS is rebuilding it as a brandnew hospital, with an A&E. Once again, Hammersmith Labour havebeen exposed for putting politics before patients and residents.” The Prime Minister and his family have also used Charing Crosshospital, and he has guaranteed it a bright future. The week beforethe local elections, the Prime Minister himself visited H&F to confirmCharing Cross will retain its A&E and other services. During the visitMr Cameron said: "Slaughter is not giving the true facts. Charing Cross will retain its A&E and services, it will still be a very good hospital with a fantastic cancer care unit.” Greg added: “My late brother was treated for 12 years in the Charing Cross for cancer, and I would not sit quietly if the hospital were in any way under threat.” Greg was sat next to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, and also a former hospital user, when he announcedto the House of Commons in the Autumn that A&E services would bethere in the new hospital.

Labour’s plans for ‘triple whammy’ ofproperty and business taxes: Chelsea andFulham could be one of hardest hit areas It has been revealed that Labour is secretly considering plans toimpose a ‘triple tax whammy’ on property owners, should it form aGovernment next year. The proposals for a multi-billion-poundpackage of 'property wealth taxes' would disproportionately affectLondon and Southern England, if they went ahead. Chelsea andFulham would be particularly badly affected as it has some of thehighest property and land values in the country, but the homes are notalways inhabited by people with high incomes. The new taxes are discussed in a Labour Party policy reviewcommissioned by Ed Miliband, and authored by Bill Grimsey, a former boss of the Wickes DIY chain. It was marked ‘very sensitive’, but wasleaked to national newspapers this week. It is understood that theplans are to be discussed next month at the top levels of the Labour Party, in a meeting scheduled between Mr Grimsey, Ed Miliband andShadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna. If the recommendations were adopted, and Labour were to win power in next year’s General Election, then it would mean:

All shop owners would be forced to pay a new ‘propertyowner’s tax’ separate from existing business rates - even if they don't run the shop, and on top of their existing taxes.Business rates would be shaken up to scrap the current ruleunder which all firms pay the same level of rates based on thevalue of the properties they occupy, and instead wouldimmediately increase the level in prosperous areas (mainly theSouth) – and slashed in less prosperous areas (mainly theNorth) to provide extra funds to struggling towns.

A new £500 !million ‘farm tax’ would be introduced by scrappingthe exemption from business rates that has applied toagricultural land and buildings since 1929.

As controversial, the report says that Labour should backdatethe changes by two months to March, if it wins power next May.

According to Mr Grimsey, the intention behind the proposals is totackle ‘geographical unfairness’, but they would have the biggesteffect on properties with the highest values, such as those in Chelseaand Fulham. Moreover, they would not be linked to any apparentability to pay the new taxes. Responding to the reports, Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands said:“I am deeply worried by these proposals, and particularly by the fact

that my constituents and local businesses owners would be some of the hardest hit in the country. All taxes need to have someassessment of the ability to pay them. “Ed Miliband doesn’t make any sense; he is always talking about cutting the cost of living, and yet if shops and farms have to pay moretax, shopping bills will go up. “The economy is starting to grow, but these are the early stages of therecovery. This clutch of new taxes would hit business hard and put therecovery at risk. Instead of penalising those who are doing well, Mr Miliband should focus on helping others learn from their success.Labour has no ideas other than taxing and spending more.”

Greg Hands MP: more jobs means moresecurity for people who want to work hard,and get on, in Chelsea and Fulham Greg Hands MP has welcomed new figures showing that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Chelsea and Fulham hasfallen by 385 over the last year, with employment up overall in Londonby 376,000 since 2010. Since the last General Election, the number of Chelsea and Fulhamresidents on unemployment benefits has fallen by 678. Greg said: “It’s great news there are now 385 fewer people on JobSeekers Allowance in Chelsea and Fulham than there were last year.That’s 385 people no longer needing benefits to get by, with a moresecure, brighter future ahead of them.

“With the economy now recovering from Labour’s Great Recession,and businesses creating jobs, it’s clear the Conservatives’ long-termeconomic plan is working. We need to keep working through the plan,which is delivering growth and jobs, so that more people in Chelseaand Fulham who want to work hard and get on can have the security of a regular pay packet they can bring home to their families.” The national picture is also positive, as this week the ONS releasedthe labour market statistics for the three months to April 2014,including figures on claimant count and private sector employment for the first quarter of 2014. The figures reveal that employment levelshave now reached 30.5 million, up 345,000 this quarter and up 1.69million since the election, while the employment rate is now 72.9 per cent, 2.6 points higher since the election. Greg added: “Private sector employment has also risen by more thantwo million since the election. This week’s figures show that, by various measures across the board, the country is doing better under this Conservative led coalition, than under the last Labour

Government.”

Last Call for Views on Crossrail Two stationon King's Road

As T f L launches the last phase of its consultation on the route for Crossrail 2, the Council is urging local residents to help make sure theline stops at Chelsea. Over the next six weeks, T f L will be consulting on three options: onewith a station at Dovehouse Street, another with a station further westat Cremorne, and one that bypasses the borough altogether. "After so many years of campaigning for Crossrail 2 it would be adisaster if we were to fall at the final hurdle," said Cllr Tim Coleridge,Cabinet Member for Transport. "West Chelsea is poorly served by public transport. Our streets arecongested and our air quality is poor. A Crossrail station would makea massive difference so it's worrying at this late stage to see an optionthere that bypasses Chelsea altogether. We urge as many residentsas possible to get involved in the consultation and demand our station." The Council has long supported the idea of a new rail line connectingsouth-west and north-east London and last year it checked to makesure that the people of Chelsea agreed.

About 3,000 Chelsea residents and businesses replied to theCouncil's survey, with around 70 per cent expressing support for thenew line and a station in Chelsea. There was more support than opposition right across the survey area,although support was particularly high to the west. And while therewas strong support for a station at the Chelsea Fire Station site onDovehouse Street, opinion was divided almost equally between thosewho felt this was the best location and those who thought it might be

better placed further west. The Council itself accepts that more residents would benefit if thewestern option were chosen but believes either of the King's Roadoptions would bring very signific ant benefits. Crossrail 2 would relieve pressure on major London stations such asEuston, Victoria and Clapham Junction and ease congestion on verybusy Tube lines. In some cases, journey times could be more thanhalve d. The line would pass deep under Chelsea and a station on the King'sRoad would, among other things, link residents to Clapham Junction,

the West End and four of London's busiest mainline stations. The idea for Crossrail 2 - formerly called the Chelsea- Hackney Line -has been around for many decades, with the Chelsea Fire Stationhaving long been earmarked as a potential site for the station. Parts of Chelsea remain poorly served by public transport and theCouncil believes the line would:

! dramatically improve local transport options! relieve local and city-wide congestion! ease pressure on the transport network! improve air quality! dramatically improve journey times! help the hard-pressed retail sector

As part of the consultation T f L will be running the following drop-insessions:

Chelsea Theatre Studio 2, 7 World's End Place, King's Road, London,SW10 0DRFriday 20 June, 10am to 4pmFriday 27 June, 2pm to 8pm Chelsea Old Town Hall Small Hall, King's Road, London, SW3 5EEFriday 11 July, 2pm to 8pmSaturday 12 July, 10am to 4pm

Residents can also participate online at www.crossrail2.co.uk . Greg Hands is interested in hearing all local residents views on this -so please copy him in to your submissions - mail@greghands.com .

New Mayor for the Royal Borough Councillor Maighread Condon-Simmonds has been elected to serveas Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for 2014/15.

Born in Castlemartyr, County Cork, in the Republic of Ireland,Maighread Condon-Simmonds was educated at a convent schoolbefore moving to South Devon when she was 18 where she trained asa nurse at Torbay Hospital. Three years later she came to London anddid her psychiatric nurses' training at the Maudsley Hospital.

As well as a career in nursing Maighread Condon-Simmonds hasworked for Pan Am and Pilgrim Airlines at Kennedy Airport where sheundertook flying lessons in de Havilland Twin Otter aeroplanes. Commenting on her election Maighread Condon-Simmonds, said: "It is a great honour to have been elected as Mayor and I look forward to

a demanding and hopefully rewarding year as I undertake my new civic duties. "I have adopted SANE as my Mayoral charity. More and more livesare affected by mental illness, yet all too often people pass over it through embarrassment. SANE works to improve the quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness and I will do all I can to help themboth in raising funds and awareness." In 2002 Cllr Condon-Simmonds was elected to the Council and sincethat time has served as a Councillor for the Cremorne Ward. She hassat on the Planning, Public Realm, Administration, Adult Social Careand Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutinycommittees. She is a governor of St. Joseph's Roman CatholicPrimary School and board member of the Kensington and ChelseaTenant Management Organisation. Maighread combines her work onthe Council with nursing people in their own homes. Maighread Condon-Simmonds has a wide variety of interests. She isa keen reader, listener of Jazz music, swimmer, cyclist, hill walker andskier, as well as being a great lover of sport; rugby being her favourite. The new Mayor has appointed her son, Timothy J.K. Simmonds asher consort. Councillor Robert Atkinson, a former Leader of the Council's Labour Group serves as Deputy Mayor. He has been a borough Councillor since May 1988. Robert has lived in Kensington and Chelsea for 32years, but was born in rural Lancashire. He is married to Maria Elena Arana (an International Developmentspecialist). Together they have three grown up children. Robert has an M.A. from Johns Hopkins in International Relations andEconomics and a BA in History and Politics from Leeds. He did astage with the European Commission in Brussels and was a ResearchFellow at Kingston University before spending 23 years working for anInternational Education Company with offices in Queen's Gate. He currently manages the office of a Member of Parliament. Robert is

a trustee of Campden Charities and a governor of Servite School,Fulham Road. He is a former director of the Kensington and ChelseaPrimary Care Trust and in the past 26 years has served on thegoverning bodies of seven schools and colleges within the borough. Robert's interests include transport, education, Church architectureand Latin America. Father Pat Ryall from the Servite Church in Fulham Road has agreedto serve as Mayor's Chaplain.

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448By email: mail@greghands.com

By post: Greg Hands M .P .House of CommonsLondon SW1A 0AA

In person: Click here for details of howto book an appointment atGreg Hands M.P.’s weeklysurgery

www.greghands.com

More news from Greg Hands M .P ., coming soon !

Please forward this email on to anyone you think may be interested. If you have had this email forwarded to you and would like to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to: news@greghands.comwith “JOIN” in the subject heading. To unsubscribe from this list, please return an e-mail tonews@greghands.com with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject heading.

Greg Hands M.P. – a strong voice for Chelsea & Fulham

Published & Promoted by Jonathan Fraser-Howells on behalf of Greg Hands M.P.,both of 1a Chelsea Manor Street, London SW3 5RP