Government to crack down on nuisance call companies

Companies making unwanted marketing calls to be hit with fines of up to £500,000

‘Have you been mis-sold PPP insurance?’

‘If you could replace any of the windows in your home …’

‘Have you heard about the government’s boiler replacement scheme’

‘Injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault?’

Consumers plagued by nuisance calls and texts will benefit from changes to the law which will make it easier for those firms responsible to be hit with fines of up to £500,000.

The law currently requires the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to prove a company caused ‘substantial damage or substantial distress’ by their conduct before action can be taken. Following a six-week public consultation, the Government is now removing this legal threshold, giving the ICO the power to intervene in more cases. This change will come into effect from 6 April 2015.

The Government also confirmed it will look at introducing measures to hold board level executives responsible for nuisance calls and texts. This follows a report from the Which?-led taskforce last December, which called for a review of the rules in order to act as a stronger deterrent to rogue companies.

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “For far too long companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts, and escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm.

“This change will make it easier for the Information Commissioner’s Office to take action against offenders and send a clear message to others that harassing consumers with nuisance calls or texts is just not on. We’re also going to look at whether the powers the ICO have to hold to account board level executives for such behaviour are sufficient or we need to do more.

The Government is committed to tackling the problem of nuisance calls. In July last year, the rules were changed to make it easier for Ofcom to share information with the ICO on companies breaking the law. This is already helping in the ICO’s efforts in taking more action. In addition, the Government is looking to introduce mandatory caller line identification (CLI) so that all marketing callers will have to display their telephone numbers.

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, who chaired the Nuisance Calls Task Force said: “We welcome the Government making good on its promise to change the law so it’s easier to prosecute nuisance callers.

“These calls are an everyday menace blighting the lives of millions so we want the regulator to send a clear message by using their new powers to full effect without delay.

“It’s also good news that the Government has listened to our call and is looking into how senior executives can be held to account if their company makes nuisance calls.

Justice and Civil Liberties Minister Simon Hughes said: “Being pestered by unwanted marketing calls and texts can bring real misery for the people on the receiving end. We have already increased the level of fine available to punish rogue companies. This new change in the law will make it easier from now on for the Information Commissioner to take quick and firm action against companies who give so much grief to so many people.”

Nuisance calls and texts remains a significant concern for consumers – in some cases they are not only annoying, but can also cause distress especially amongst vulnerable people in society. The latest data and research shows that:

Around four out of five people surveyed by consumer group Which? said they are regularly cold-called at home, with a third of them left feeling intimidated.
There were 15,642 complaints related to nuisance calls and texts made to the ICO in November 2014, of which solar panel accounted for 2,377, whilst for PPI the figure was 1,830.
In total there were over 175,000 complaints related to nuisance calls and texts made to the ICO for 2014.

Currently the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has powers to take enforcement action against companies who flout the existing rules on direct marketing. Since January 2012, the ICO has taken enforcement action against nine companies for nuisance calls and text messages, hitting them with fines totalling £815,000.

Separately, Ofcom has powers to deal with abandoned and silent calls by taking action against offenders that persistently misuse a network or service resulting in annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety. Since 2012, Ofcom has fined seven companies totalling £1,618,000 for abandoned and silent calls.

Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart Mike is the founder and Co-Chair of the All Party Group on Nuisance Calls and he has worked closely with the regulators, consumer groups and the Government to ensure consumers are protected from nuisance calls and spam text messages.

He spearheaded the campaign to reform the laws, saying: “I am fed up of nuisance calls to my landline and mobile as well as unsolicited texts. People shouldn’t have to put up with this menace which puts many vulnerable and elderly people at risk of fraud just as much as if the crook or pushy salesman was turning up at their door.

“I am calling for the Information Commissioner’s powers to be strengthened to take in all forms of unsolicited contact and for there to be a single, simple point of contact for any individual wishing to protect their privacy from unwanted calls, texts, faxes and emails.”

The Lib-Dem MP urged members of the public to join a campaign to encourage the government to take action to curb the activities of the nuisance call companies. It seems those voices have been heard – and now we’ll have to wait to see (or hear) what effect the latest government action will have on the nuisance callers. Will the phones go quiet?

Now, who do I call about double glazing …

Britain leading the fight against dementia

Britain will expand its efforts to combat dementia over the next 5 years, the Prime Minister David Cameron said today as he set out a new, long-term strategy focused on boosting research, improving care and raising public awareness about the condition.

Britain has emerged as the world leader in fighting dementia since 2010 with investment in research doubled, hundreds of thousands of NHS staff given specialist training and 1 million ‘Dementia Friends’ taking part in awareness sessions across the country.

The Prime Minister wants to build on that momentum both in the UK and worldwide. The Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 is the next phase in the country’s effort to combat the condition and includes:

Over £300m invested in UK research

The UK government will invest over £300 million into UK research and medical innovation, backing the country’s world-leading science and medical sectors to lead the way in discovering the next big breakthrough. Annual investment in UK research is expected to double by 2025. Alongside this effort, an international dementia institute will be established in England within 5 years, helping to make the UK a world leader for research on dementia and medical trials. It is hoped the number of people taking part in dementia research will double in that time and a new online and telephone service to facilitate people taking part in dementia research studies will be launched next week.

New global fund on dementia

A separate multi-million pound fund will be launched within weeks to help establish a large-scale, international investment scheme to discover new drugs and treatment that could slow down the onset of dementia or even deliver a cure by 2025. The fund will see investors from the private, public and philanthropic sectors unite under a single scheme to finance a range of research projects identified by scientists as having the best potential for future success.

One million NHS staff trained

All NHS staff – some 1.3 million people – will now be required to undergo training in dementia so that people have the know-how and understanding to provide the best possible standards in care, from hospital porters to surgeons.

Three million more ‘Dementia Friends’

A world-leading call to action on dementia will see 3 million more trained to understand about dementia and how to best support people who may have the condition. Members of the public will be able to take part in free sessions in schools, church halls or their own work places. By 2020 the majority of people in England will be living in towns and cities that have been transformed into dementia-friendly communities , making shops, transport and other public places accessible to people with dementia. Business will play its part, with M&S, Asda, Argos, Homebase and Lloyd’s banking group training staff to become Dementia Friends.

Faster assessments, better care for all

Nationally, initial dementia assessments will take place in an average of 6 weeks, followed by better support post-diagnosis. GP diagnosis rates have increased from 42% to 59% in just 3 years but too many people are waiting up to 6 months for a full assessment, causing worry and uncertainty for people and their families. This will no longer be tolerated. There will also be a greater focus on the support given to people following their diagnosis such as giving people with dementia better information about the services available locally, as well as advice and support for carers.

Announcing the plan, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, said:

“Dementia is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, and I am proud that we are leading the world in fighting it.

“Because of the growing strength of our economy, we can invest in research and drug-development, as well as public understanding, so we defeat this terrible condition and offer more hope and dignity for those who suffer.

“That way, we can help make Britain a country that offers security in retirement for all.”

Dementia is a growing problem. In 10 years it is expected there will be one million people living with dementia in the UK.

The Prime Minister has made it a key priority to overhaul the UK’s approach to dementia, launching the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia in 2012, and hosting the first-ever dedicated G8 event on dementia in 2013 to secure greater global cooperation between leading nations.

Significant progress has been made in improving health and care for people with dementia and carers, creating dementia friendly communities, and boosting dementia research.

This includes:

introducing the first-ever World Dementia Envoy, spearheading a global approach to the fight against dementia, driven through the G8 dementia summit in 2013
over 437,920 NHS staff have already received dementia training and more than 100,000 social care workers have received dementia awareness training, more than any other country worldwide
there are now 1 million dementia friends and 82 areas across England have signed up become dementia-friendly communities
diagnosis rates in the UK are the highest in the world, increased from 42% to 59% and on track to reach two thirds, ensuring more people than ever before get the care and support they need.
the UK has doubled research funding since 2009 to over £66m in 2015. This investment includes major research on issues that matter to people with dementia and their carers, such as the world’s largest – £20 million – social science research programme on dementia. It also includes Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), a 5-year £53 million public private partnership led by the Medical Research Council, the world’s largest dementia population study.
we have achieved a world-leading 52% fall in the level of prescribing of antipsychotic medication to people with dementia.

The number of people living with dementia worldwide today is estimated at 44 million people, set to almost double by 2030.

The cost to healthcare is huge, with dementia now one of the greatest pressures on healthcare systems around the world. It costs an incredible estimated £370 billion (US $604 billion) – about 1% of the world’s GDP. And, without urgent action this is set to rise.

However, global spending on dementia is at 5 times below research on cancer, with only 3 new drugs making it onto the market in the last 15 years.

The World Dementia Envoy, Dennis Gillings, said: “We have momentum. Awareness of dementia is increasing and action is being taken, and that will ensure the condition is managed far better in our society. More treatments are on the horizon but we must continue to invest in research and drug development. David Cameron’s outstanding leadership is having huge effect.”

Simon Lovestone, Professor of Translational Neuroscience, University of Oxford, said: “Dementia is the biggest single problem facing health services today. Worldwide, it poses an enormous challenge and demands an urgent and substantial response from governments and from the research community.

“In the UK we are rising to this challenge and with the Alzheimer’s Research UK Drug Discovery Alliance, launched this week, with the Dementias Platform UK launched at the beginning of the year and with the network of Biomedical Research Centres and Units for dementia funded by the NIHR, together with this commitment for substantial increased in funding for research and innovation, we are in a good position to lead, collaboratively across Europe, North America and beyond, a substantial fight against this terrible disease.

“The opportunity, which I think we have a realistic chance of delivering on, is novel therapies for dementia that will slow down, and perhaps even prevent Alzheimer’s and similar diseases.”

Hilary Evans, Charity Director, Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Over the past three years we’ve seen the Prime Minister’s Challenge play a pivotal role in creating a heightened focus on dementia and boosting the case for more research. Alzheimer’s Research UK is proud to have spearheaded the research challenge and successfully launched a number of pioneering global initiatives that will bring us ever closer to finding a cure.

“Since 2012, we’ve launched a £100 million fundraising campaign which, in addition to our existing research projects, will see a pioneering new Stem Cell Research Centre, a powerful network of world-class Drug Discovery Institutes to fast-track new treatments and a Global Clinical Trials Fund to allow new treatments to reach people sooner.

“Today represents an opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far, but we owe it to the 850,000 people in the UK with dementia to build on this work with even bolder commitments. It is vital that we continue to energise a movement across society to improve the lives of people with dementia and that research into the condition continues to be a priority.”

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Our researchers, staff and volunteers who are delivering support to people with dementia nationwide now sit as part of a national movement more than a million strong.

“Dementia Friends is truly changing attitudes and capturing the public’s attention. Together we are transforming lives today and reaching out for preventative treatments and a cure tomorrow. This government has rightly prioritised dementia. We would all acknowledge the work that remains to be done, but the PM deserves credit for the phenomenal achievement in getting dementia on the national and global agenda and this has resulted in significant progress.”

Xin nian kuai le! Gung hey fat choy!!

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Foreign Secretary Philp Hammond wish everyone celebrating Chinese New Year a great New Year and successful Year of the Sheep

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“I want to wish everyone celebrating – in the UK’s Chinese communities, as well as in China, Hong Kong and around the world – a Happy Chinese New Year.

“2015 marks the Year of the Sheep and, with some of the world’s largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia on offer, hundreds of thousands of people will be joining in the joyful festivities taking place across the UK.

“The Chinese sign of the Sheep represents peace, strength, creativity, endurance and enterprise – positive values to which we should all aspire to live our lives by, as we strive to build a stronger economy and fairer society together.

“The contribution Britain’s Chinese communities make towards helping us achieve this ambition is immeasurable: working hard, caring for their families, supporting their local communities and taking an increasing lead in every area of public life.

“Together, we can achieve the fairer, more peaceful and prosperous future we want. So, once again, let me wish everyone the very best for a great New Year and successful Year of the Sheep.

“Xin nian kuai le! Gung hey fat choy!!

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also sends his good wishes:

“I would like to wish a very happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating around the globe, in countries all across the Asia-Pacific region, and of course to communities in the UK, and elsewhere.

“As we celebrate the arrival of the New Year, we should also remember our achievements in the Year of the Horse. The UK enjoys strong relations with countries across the Asia-Pacific region, and our relationships with these countries go well beyond our important diplomatic ties and strengthening trade links.

“In 2014, we worked together to tackle numerous global challenges, improved policy cooperation in areas such as energy, low carbon, science and innovation, healthcare and sustainable development, and supported each other in the prevention of conflict in fragile states.

“In the spirit of the Year of the Sheep with its connection to strong social relationships and teamwork, I also look forward to seeing our friendships grow even closer in 2015. I hope that more visitors, tourists, students and businesspeople will be encouraged to travel between our countries. More connections will lead to a deeper cultural understanding and respect between our countries, and I look forward to our friendship continuing to deepen over the coming year.

“I hope that – wherever you may be – you enjoy the celebrations with your family and friends, and I wish you a successful, peaceful and prosperous Year of the Sheep!”

And so say all of us!

Support not stereotypes, says Lazarowicz

Young people looking for their first job: Mark Lazarowicz MP calls on Government to offer support not stereotypes

Mark Lazarowicz MP is highlighting a new scheme run by the voluntary sector EY Foundation that will offer paid work experience, advice and support to young people in Edinburgh looking for their first job.

Youth unemployment (amongst 16-24 year-olds) is still running at 18.1% in Scotland and 16.9% in the UK as a whole. In Scotland it has increased by 4.5% since 2008.

The North and Leith MP is urging young people in Edinburgh to apply for the Foundation’s Smart Futures scheme, a ten-month paid work experience programme.

He said: “Schemes like Smart Futures and the City Council’s Edinburgh Guarantee are priceless opportunities for young people to get experience and the skills to succeed in finding their first job.

“Labour is committed to introducing a compulsory Jobs Guarantee that would ensure young people who are unemployed start gaining vital work experience and skills.

“Too often the Government resorts to negative stereotypes, talking of the well-worn path from school gate to Jobcentre and on to a life on benefits.

“The reality is that the vast majority of young people desperately want to work and are eager to apply for schemes like Smart Futures – the Government should learn from it and the Edinburgh Guarantee because too often it’s the Government that’s failing not young people.”

The scheme gives young people work experience and the chance to meet with people in business and get valuable tips on writing CVs, application and interview advice, as well as an EY Foundation mentor throughout Sixth Year.

The City Council’s Edinburgh Guarantee aims to ensure that every school leaver goes into employment, further education, or training by bringing them together with employers. There is more information on how it works at

https://www.edinburghguarantee.org/about-us/

Applications for the EY Foundation’s summer 2015 Smart Futures scheme are now open until 1 March 2015 and anyone keen to apply can find more information on it at http://ukcareerguide.ey.com/schools/ey-smart-futures

Any questions?

Opportunities to get your questions answered at hustings events

PCHP_ELECTION_A4_LR

Pilton Community Health Project has organised hustings in both local constituency seats in the run up to the Westminster election in May.

Candidates for Edinburgh North and Leith have been invited to answer questions from local community on Thursday 19 March from 6.30 – 8pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre (soup will be available from 6pm).

Candidates for Edinburgh West have been invited to answer questions from the local community on Thursday 26 March from 6.30 – 8pm at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre (soup will be available from 6pm).

http://pchp.org.uk/news/2015/your-questions-matter

Power to Switch: government encourages energy consumers to shop around

A new government campaign has been launched to encourage consumers to shop around for the best energy deals

13.5 million households across the UK are missing out on their share of £2.7 billion by sticking with their energy company, according to the Department of Energy & Climate Change. They say that by shopping around and taking advantage of the best energy deals on the market, millions of people can save around £200 – and some can save even more.

The ‘Power to Switch’ campaign, launched today, encourages people to switch supplier and save money by visiting www.BeAnEnergyShopper.com. With 26 energy companies on the market and some fixed deals £100 cheaper than they were a year ago, there’s never been a better time to find a great deal, switch and save.

Launching the campaign, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “When it comes to switching, the power is in people’s hands to get a better deal and save. We’ve reformed the market so that there are more suppliers, more competition, and a much faster and simpler process to switch. That means millions of people can switch supplier and save hundreds of pounds today.”

Energy and Climate Change Minister Amber Rudd said: “We’ve already taken £50 off bills and now we’re urging people to take advantage of the most competitive energy market we’ve ever had to save hundreds of pounds. With Ofgem’s strengthened Confidence Code for price comparison sites, people will be able to have greater confidence than ever before that by switching, they’ll see real savings.”

The Government’s programme of energy market reform includes:

Halving switching times – it now takes only 17 days to switch energy supplier down from 5 weeks last year;
Encouraging new suppliers on to the market – there are now 20 independent suppliers;
Legislating to back Ofgem reforms that force energy companies to make energy bills clearer – and providing information for customers about how to switch.

Ofgem has recently strengthened its Confidence Code for price comparison websites, setting tighter standards on how tariffs are displayed with websites given until the end of March to comply.

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, said: “We need to shout loud about the benefits of switching tariff. Too many people think energy firms are ‘all the same’. That’s far from true, there are huge differences on both price and customer service.

“The worry is that news of recent price cuts, even though they were paltry, will have given many false confidence that they’re on a decent deal. Examine the figures and the ugly truth is very different.

“Even after price cuts, someone on a Big 6 supplier standard tariff with typical use will pay £1,158 a year, whereas switch to the cheapest tariff and they’d pay just over £900 a year. So it’s worth people taking 10 minutes to see if they can save themselves £250 ― at an hourly rate of £1,500 if someone else was offering this to you as work, would you turn it down?”

The ‘Power to Switch’ campaign will run for four weeks and will include national, regional and online advertising, encouraging people to switch and save.

For more information about how to switch energy supplier visit www.BeAnEnergyShopper.com or call the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.

Austerity: There IS an alternative, says First Minister

Nicola Sturgeon’s plan puts fairness at the heart of economic growth

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set out an alternative plan to tackle the economic deficit, by putting fairness at the heart of economic growth, increasing investment and maximising the skills of Scotland’s population.

In a major economic speech at University College London, the First Minister said there should be no ‘trade off’ between reducing the deficit and having a fairer society, with a clear link between economic growth and reducing inequality.

Ms Sturgeon highlighted how successful economic policies such as gender equality and the living wage “have a sense of fairness at their heart” and help grow the economy by ensuring that Scotland maximises the skill and innovation of all its people.

The First Minister set out an alternative to austerity, and said that real term increases in government department spending, limited to half a per cent each year, would see debt reduce as a share of GDP over four years, but allow a further £180 billion investment in infrastructure, skills and education to further boost the economy.

The First Minister also renewed her calls to scrap the renewal of Trident, with the £100bn savings over the next 35 years to be invested back into public services.

The First Minister said: “The Scottish Government has balanced its budget every single year and that’s something which has required genuinely tough decisions. But by and large, we’ve carried people with us because the policies we’ve adopted have clearly had a sense of fairness at their heart.

“In terms of the UK economy, we believe that debt and the deficit should be reduced as a percentage of GDP but more gradually than either of the largest UK parties is proposing.

“For example, if you limited real terms growth in departmental spending to half a per cent each year it would reduce debt as a share of GDP in every year from 2016-17. But it would also permit a further £180 billion of investment across the UK over the next four years.

“We could protect the infrastructure, education and innovation which will support sustainable growth. And we could take a different approach to the crude cuts that reduce work incentives and impact directly on disabled people and families with children. We could manage the deficit down, without destroying the social fabric.

“We could also release savings through some more straightforward choices. Deciding not to renew Trident, for example, would save around £100bn, at 2012 prices, over the next 35 years. That is money that could be – and should be – invested instead in health and education.

“By taking a different approach – by offering an alternative to the austerity agenda – we would ensure that fiscal consolidation is consistent with a wider vision of society. A society which strives to become more equal, as part of becoming more prosperous.

“We simply don’t accept that there’s a trade-off between balancing the books and having a balanced society; fairness and prosperity can go hand in hand. It’s basic common sense that as a society, we will do better if we can benefit from the skill, talent and innovation of all of our people.

“But there are other reasons too. Higher incomes would increase demand and boost the revenues needed for investment in infrastructure and education. More equal economies are more resilient and less likely to depend on borrowing and credit.”

The First Minister continued: “But one thing we’re already very clear on, is that we see the private sector as being an essential partner in all of this. They are not only vital to but will also benefit hugely from helping to build a fairer society. And so we’re also encouraging and supporting business to contribute to a fairer society – because that’s clearly in their own best interests.

“Gender equality is a good example of that. The Scottish Government is leading by example – the Scottish Cabinet is one of only three in the developed world to have a 50/50 gender split. But we’re also launching a major drive – called 50/50 by 2020 – to encourage gender equality in public, private and third sector boardrooms.

“And we have a clear focus on the quality of work – people’s experience in the workplace. The Scottish Government already pays the living wage to all our employees; and we’re using procurement policy, where we can, to encourage its use in all public sector contracts. Now we are funding the Poverty Alliance to run a scheme for accrediting living wage employers.

“Essentially, we are appealing to companies’ sense of enlightened self-interest. In doing so, we are encouraging them to commit to good business practices – such as innovation or internationalisation – and to good employment practices; such as the living wage, gender equality or supporting workforce engagement.

“So we will make the case for a more rational economic policy at Westminster. And we will use the powers we have in the Scottish Parliament to pursue a different approach; one based on partnership, fairness and prosperity.”

Righting a wrong? Poll Tax debt to end today

Councils to stop collecting the debt from 1 February

From February 1, 2015 the liability to pay ‘Poll Tax’ arrears in Scotland will end, subject to final approval of the Scottish Parliament later this month. John Swinney says Holyrood has acted ‘to right a historic wrong’.

The Scottish Government brought forward the bill to bring an end to collection of debts under the Community Charge, the discredited tax which was abolished in 1993 after four years in operation in Scotland.

The issue was brought to the fore following the independence referendum, amid reports that the expanded electoral registers could be used to identify and pursue Poll Tax debts at a time of record democratic engagement.

The amount of Poll Tax arrears collected by local authorities across Scotland has fallen in recent years to less than £350,000 in 2013-14, and some local authorities have ceased recovery of debts altogether. Nonetheless, the Scottish Government will cover the cost to local authorities of the Poll Tax debt that they would have expected to recover under existing arrangements.

This week parliament agreed to the general principles of the Bill and also approved a timescale that will see the Bill complete its parliamentary passage by 19 February.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government has acted act expeditiously to address the use of information gathered from voter registration to pursue historical debts from a tax that is discredited and which has not been operational in Scotland for more than 20 years.

“The amount of Poll Tax arrears which have been collected by councils across Scotland has fallen to near negligible levels in recent years, from around £1.3 million in 2009-10 to less than £350,000 in the most recent financial year.

“We will ensure that local authorities are properly compensated in line with current collection rates in respect of outstanding amounts and ensure that they are not out of pocket.

“The poll tax is a defunct tax, but it has left a bitter legacy in Scotland – the Scottish Parliament has acted to right a historic wrong.”

Countdown: 100 days to General Election

Edinburgh residents are being urged to think about their vote with 100 days until the next UK Parliamentary Election.

People across the capital are being reminded that they will be voting for MPs to represent them at Westminster on Thursday 7 May, when the general election takes place.

More than 84% of the city’s residents voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum in September, which saw a record-breaking turnout across the country.

While most people who registered to vote in time for the referendum will still be eligible to take part in the UK Parliamentary Election in May, first time voters or anyone who has since moved will need to register again.

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “It was incredible to see Edinburgh’s huge turnout in the Scottish Independence Referendum and we would like to continue this enthusiasm in the general election.

“No doubt the majority of people who took part in September will be keen to cast their vote in May. Voting should not be a once in a lifetime activity – elections are opportunities to have a say on issues that matter to us all. Anyone who is keen to register or is unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”

Find out more about voter registration and elections information on the Council website.

Lazarowicz: Fast-track benefits for terminally ill

‘long delays risk leaving terminally ill people destitute in the last months of their life’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP

Mark Lazarowicz MP is backing Gordon Aikman’s MND campaign and has called on the Government to fast track benefits for people like Gordon with terminal conditions.

Speaking in a debate in Parliament yesterday, the Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith called on the Government to fast track benefit claims from people with terminal conditions like Motor Neurone Disease and intervened to tell the Minister that the prolonged delays, in some cases of up to 18 months, could mean the outcome comes too late for some people with limited life expectancy.

He said later: “I strongly support Gordon Aikman’s campaign to fast track benefit claims from people with terminal conditions like MND: people are waiting 6 months and in some cases 3 times that just to have an assessment.

“Claims can be fast tracked where someone is not expected to live longer than 6 months but where does that leave someone with MND where the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 14 months?

“The Government should offer financial support to people suffering as a result of the delays caused by its own incompetence but first and foremost it should make sure that their claims are fast tracked.

“The Minister’s response in the debate was not acceptable: it’s shameful that people who are so ill should spend the last months or year of their life in financial hardship having to fight so hard for the benefits they are entitled to.”

He was speaking in a debate on the introduction of the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the disability benefit that is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which is designed to help seriously ill or disabled people with the extra costs their condition entails.

It was announced on Thursday that responsibility for PIP is to be devolved in future and Mark has called for the roll-out of the new benefit to existing DLA claimants to be stopped until it is because of the huge backlog of assessments.

That was also the conclusion of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee: it reported last March that even where someone did have their claim fast tracked because they were not expected to live more than 6 months, the time taken to process their claim had increased from typically 8 days with DLA to 8 weeks with PIP.

Mark Lazarowicz says the Government has moved the goalposts: its original target was for the whole process from claim to decision to be completed within 16 weeks, now it is that all assessments should be completed within that time and it is even failing that target.

Gordon Aikman’s story

I’m dying. And fast.

That – in short – was what my doctor told me just a few weeks ago when I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

It’s not the news you expect when you are 29 years old.

MND is a rare, progressive and debilitating disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. It leads to weakness and muscle wasting and will affect how I walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

There is no cure.

That’s why I am doing all I can to raise money for MND Scotland – a great charity that funds and promotes research into the disease and provides support to people affected by Motor Neurone Disease.

It’ll be too late for me, but we must find a cure for the next generation.

With your help I can turn a negative into a positive. Please dig deep and donate what you can today.

100% of the money you donate will be spent on trying to find a cure.

Thank you

Gordon

P.S. Please visit www.gordonsfightback.com to tell your your MP and MSPs to back my campaign to double MND research funding.

To date Gordon has raised £216,683.88 of his £250,000.00 target. 3,690 individual donations have been made.

https://www.justgiving.com/gordonaikman/