Archive for March 22nd, 2013

Staffordshire’s PCC Urges People to Turn the Table on Criminals

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

The County’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Matthew Ellis, is urging Staffordshire people to turn the tables on criminals by contacting the Crimestoppers charity which has brought thousands of wrong-doers to justice.

The Commissioner’s call to action comes after he instigated the first ever direct promotion of the crime fighting charity as part of the 500,000 council tax bills which dropped through letterboxes across Staffordshire and Stoke last week.

Crimestoppers is the only charity that guarantees complete and total anonymity for anyone who contacts them with information about crime or criminals. And very often there’s a cash reward which can be claimed secretly by the person providing information.

Mr Ellis says it’s time to use the power of Staffordshire people to make life more ‘uncomfortable’ for criminals and wrong-doers than ever before.

He explained, “Criminality is anti-social to law abiding people. From the lowest level wrong-doing to the most serious crime, it affects us all either directly or through the cost to public services and ever increasing insurance premiums. Crime is comparatively low in most of Staffordshire but it’s time to turn the screw that bit further.

“Over the next few years I want society to play a bigger part in tackling crime than ever before. Doing that alongside the work of police and other agencies will mean criminals constantly looking over their shoulder and waiting for that knock at the door… or that door going in!

“Getting information about the Crimestoppers service through almost every letterbox in Staffordshire and Stoke at little extra cost because the council tax information was going out anyway seemed a powerful and cost effective thing to do.

“Using the population’s eyes and ears could be immensely powerful and see Staffordshire become as close to a no-go zone for crooks and criminality as is possible. It’s about galvanising community pressure and knowledge and making criminality an unwanted and antisocial thing to do. Crimestoppers provides anonymity so people can do their duty for Staffordshire in the fight against crime.”

Childcare Bills to be Cut by 20%

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

From 2015, the Conservative led Government will pay 20% of childcare bills for working families – up to £1,200 per child.

Conservatives have been clear that we’ll do everything we can to make life easier for families in Britain.

At the moment, too many parents get up early and work hard and but see their income swallowed in childcare costs. Others simply can’t afford to work because nurseries and child minders are too expensive.

That’s why the Government has announced plans to dramatically cut the cost of childcare.

The plan’s very simple and works like this:

From 2015, the Conservative led Government is going to pay 20% of a working family’s childcare bills every year – up to £1,200 per child. This effectively gives people their tax back for childcare costs.

We’ll begin by helping those with children under five – but year by year we’ll extend it until all children under twelve are covered
It’s for families where all parents work – so of course it applies to working single mums and dads too
This offer is only for families where no parent earns over £150k, nor receives tax credits, Universal Credit or Employer Supported Childcare

This is real money that will help 2.5 million families – the average family with 2 children will be up to £2,400 a year better off.

The scheme will be delivered through an online account which parents set up. For every 80p parents put in, the Government will put in 20p. The new scheme will help 5 times as many families as the current system of Employer Supported Childcare vouchers, which are only offered by 5% of businesses.

This additional support for families follows several other steps that Conservatives in Government have taken to help with the cost of living. We’ve cut tax for 24 million people, stopped Labour’s fuel duty rises, frozen council tax for 3 years and are forcing energy companies to put their customers on the lowest available tariff.

Make no mistake – tough choices need to be made as we clear up Labour’s mess. But we’ll always back people who work hard and want a better life for themselves and their children.

Christopher Pincher Calls for Debate on Hospital Car Parking Charges

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

Yesterday in the House of Commons, Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher called for a debate on the proposed car parking charges at the Sir Robert Peel hospital in Mile Oak, Tamworth.

Mr Pincher said, “Following the Chancellor’s welcome help yesterday for the least well-off to keep more of their own money, could we have a debate on hospital parking charges, and especially on the decision by Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to levy up to £6 a day on users of the Sir Robert Peel hospital car park?

“The proposals were made without consultation, contrary to the trust’s previous assurances, and will hit the very people whom the Chancellor set out to help yesterday.”

The Leader of the House, Andrew Lansley, replied, “I know how important this issue can be for many constituents, particularly if they are frequent users of hospital services. A code of practice has been established through the NHS Confederation and that should ensure that those frequent users are able to access discounts and the like.

“I encourage my hon. Friend to talk to the Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust about that, while recognising that these are decisions for NHS organisations. As a Government we have not sought to impose a structure on hospitals. Indeed, we have not chosen to divert money that should be available to support patient care to the subsidising of car parking.”

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Archive for March 22nd, 2013

Staffordshire’s PCC Urges People to Turn the Table on Criminals

Childcare Bills to be Cut by 20%

Christopher Pincher Calls for Debate on Hospital Car Parking Charges

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