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Ministers pressed on economy

Official figures released last week confirmedthat the economy shrank at the end of lastyear. We all know that there are toughdecisions ahead, but the Government’sdecision to go too far and too fast is backfiring.

Rising unemployment and a lack of growthmeans the Government won’t now balance thebooks by 2015 and are set to borrow £158billion more than planned. That’s a bill for anextra £6,500 for every family in Britain – moneythat nobody can afford.

Last week also saw the Prime Ministerhighlighting how the retail sector is a vital partof the economy. At Treasury Questions, Ipressed the Government on why they aregoing ahead with plans to axe working taxcredits for couples in working over 16, but lessthan 24 hours per week. Many of theseworkers are in the retail sector, and just won’t be able to find the extra hours to make itworthwhile working. It makes no sense to hitpeople who are trying to do the right thing andtake jobs, even though they are part time.

Meanwhile the Economic Secretary to theTreasury, Chloe Smith, caused astonishmentwhen she stated that poverty was not aboutincome. That shows just how out of touch the

Government is, and it’s a real insult to workerson low pay. Perhaps Ms Smith has never had

to worry about paying a gas bill, or saving for akids school trip, but several hundred childrenliving in families in Kilmarnock and Loudounare going to be hurt by these tax creditchanges.

Unfair Bankers Bonuses must end

We used our Opposition Day debate last weekto highlight how a Bankers Bonus Tax could

help get young people into work. People whohave been in touch with me rightly cannotunderstand why, at a time when they are facingthe biggest squeeze on their incomes in ageneration, the Government has failed to acton excessively high pay and bonuses. Themassive bonus due to be paid to the ChiefExecutive of RBS, which was bailed out by thetaxpayer, is to be paid in shares, meaning hecould end up receiving well over £1 million.Given that the Chancellor promised a year ago

that bank chief executive pay would be linkedto SME lending, news of this bonus is a slap inthe face for thousands of small businessesstruggling to get the finance they need. RBSmissed its lending target in the third quarter oflast year and net lending to businesses by thecountry’s banks fell in nine out of the last 12months.

USDAW wins Woolworths case

Usdaw has woncompensation worth up to £67.8million for over24,000 formeremployees ofWoolworths made

redundant when the firm collapsed at the endof 2008. I have added my support to the DailyRecord backed campaign to secure paymentsfor those who worked in the smaller stores who

are losing out due to a loophole in thelegislation.

Cathy Jamieson MP

eBrief from

30 th January 2012

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Government loses Court case onFeed in Tariffs 

At Energy andClimate ChangeQuestions last week,I told the Secretary ofState about thechaos that had beencaused by the Govt’s botched changes tothe Feed in Tariffs for Solar PV. TheGovernment went ahead with changes to theFiT, before their own consultation on the issuehad even ended, and as a result have lost the

case raised in the courts. Their actions saw anincrease of 1100 % in applications for thescheme, as people understandably tried tomeet the deadline. This caused real problemsfor local Solar PV businesses, who then hadproblems sourcing supplies quickly, and werebeing pressed to get roof installationscompleted during the worst weather of thewinter.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Last week’s Holocaust Memorial Day marked the 67th anniversary of theliberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Naziconcentration and extermination campwhich is the site of the largest massmurder in history.

I signed the Book of Commitment at theHouse of Commons, and paid my tribute to

the extraordinary men and women who,having survived the Holocaust, now work

to educate young people about what theyendured through the HolocaustEducational Trust’s Outreach programme.

Having made a visit to Auschwitz a few

years ago, I feel strongly that we should doeverything we can to ensure that today’sgeneration is fully aware of the atrocitieswhich were committed, and ensure thatthis never happens again.

Celebrating Burns Day in Parliament

I always enjoy Burns Day, not least because Ican speak in my own Ayrshire dialect withoutanyone having a go at me! Local people

listening to Prime Minister’s Questions mightthink the PM would have done well to takeAyrshire advice on his pronunciation.However, there were no such difficulties laterin the evening when the Burns Supperorganised by National Grid bravely invited twoof us with Burns country connections – myselfand Lord Foulkes- to speak, along with“Glasgow Boy” Anas Sarwar MP!

Killie set for Cup Final 

I joined thousands of Killie fans at Hampdenon Saturday for the nail biting semi –finalagainst our local rivals. Well done tosupporters of both clubs, whocreated a great atmosphere.

I’m now looking forward tothe final, and hope the towncan get behind the team.

Next Drop In Surgery

Friday 3rd February 10 am

New Farm Loch Community Centre

For future dates see 

http://www.cathyjamieson.com/local-

surgeries 

You can also use my esurgery form  

http://www.cathyjamieson.com/esurgery 

or call 01563 522361 for an appointment