Archive for November, 2013
Friday, November 29th, 2013
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, has called for local schools to get their pupils talking and learning about money, as part of a charity’s new campaign to help improve the financial capability of young people.
Mr Pincher has written to every primary and secondary school in Tamworth encouraging them to support the Personal Finance Education Group charities (PFEG) Get Money Smart posters and teaching materials for children aged up to seven, 11, 14 and 16 which are designed to encourage classroom discussions about things children can do to learn more about money and personal finance. Ideas for different ages include checking your change, estimating the cost of a weekly shop, comparing mobile phone tariffs and planning and budgeting for a trip.
Mr Pincher said, “I absolutely support this campaign to encourage pupils in Tamworth to gain the vital skills and knowledge they will need to manage their personal finances throughout their lives. I believe that financial prudence, understanding the financial decisions people face in their everyday lives is crucially important.
“Getting pupils talking about money at an early age is important which is why the Government has ensured that financial education will be taught in secondary schools as part of the National Curriculum from September 2014. This will help to give pupils in Tamworth the best possible start in life.”
Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of PFEG said, “We are thrilled to have the support of Christopher Pincher for this free new scheme for primary and secondary schools in Tamworth. I hope all local schools will seize the opportunity to use their Get Money Smart posters to bring money to life in the classroom.
“This is a crucial topic that every young person should learn. Getting pupils talking about money and the financial decisions they will face in the future is a great way to start.”
The campaign has been made possible through a personal donation to PFEG from MoneySavingExpert.com’s Martin Lewis, which has enabled the charity to send free copies of the Get Money Smart posters and teaching resources to primary and secondary schools in the Tamworth area and across the country.
Thursday, November 21st, 2013
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, supports action to help reduce household energy bills immediately by rolling back green levies, making it easier for people to switch suppliers and putting people on the lowest tariffs.
As a Member of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Mr. Pincher said in the House of Commons that Labour Party proposals to freeze energy prices for 20 months amount to nothing more than “political charlatanism” that will result in higher prices, damage energy investment and freeze out competition.
Mr. Pincher said, “I support the action Conservatives are taking to reduce energy bills for hardworking people. We are simplifying energy tariffs and ensuring that everyone is on the cheapest possible tariff that could save people up to £158 and challenging the industry to allow 24 hour switching.
“Making switching suppliers easier could save the consumer £200. The Prime Minister is committed to rolling back green levies that add £112 each year to the average annual bill and place a burden on businesses and households. These measures will help bring bills down now.
“Under Labour gas bills more than doubled, electricity bills went up by more than 50%, the number of available energy tariffs rose to more than 400, and Labour created the ‘Big Six’ oligopoly. Fixing prices will only mean that energy companies will hike their prices in anticipation of that fix. That means that people will be paying artificially high prices, particularly if the wholesale price falls during the period of the freeze.”
Conservatives say that freezing energy prices is a political con trick. It means that hard-pressed consumers will be saddled with permanently high bills. What is needed is a cut in bills and that is what the government’s Energy Bill legislation currently being debated in the House of Lords is designed to achieve.
Conservatives have criticized Labour for saying one thing about freezing prices whilst at the same time pushing a “decarbonisation target” amendment to the Energy Bill that would add a further £125 to many bills.
Thursday, November 21st, 2013
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, welcomed figures released this week which show unemployment in Tamworth has fallen once again and continues to fall this year.
Figures published by the ONS show that the number of unemployed claimants in Tamworth constituency in October 2013 was 1,145. This represents a rate of 2.3% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64. This number of claimants is a massive 519 lower than October 2012 and 95 lower than in September 2013.
Responding to these figures Christopher Pincher said, “I welcome the news that unemployment in Tamworth has fallen once again and continues to drop below levels seen before the Labour government’s recession. But we must not be complacent, there is still much to do.
“We must make Tamworth the place to set up or expand a business. I am pleased to say that my Jobs Fair held in October at South Staffordshire College went off really well and it was encouraging to see that some of the 300-400 jobs on offer have been filled. I hope they continue to be filled and the unemployment figures continue to fall.
“There are opportunities out there for hardworking people who aspire to get on in life and I welcome the Conservative led government’s campaign to legislate for a £2,000 National Insurance cut for small businesses to help encourage them to take on more staff. Locally the Council introduced Small Business Saturday, giving small independent business free stalls and shoppers free parking. We are firmly on the side of business and it is important we continue back small businesses so they have the opportunity to become bigger businesses.”
Tamworth is well above the regional and national levels of employment, which also continues to rise. West Midlands and national JSA claimants both fell 0.2% to 5.0% and 4.0% respectively.
Friday, November 15th, 2013
Elizabeth Truss MP
Projects run by former armed forces personnel are to receive a further £4.8 million after research showed they were turning around the lives of thousands of young people.
Conservative Education Minister Elizabeth Truss MP announced today that 6 projects, including 2 new charities the Prince’s Trust and CVQO, will receive the funding to build on previous work and support the government’s commitment to drive up education standards.
The new money comes after evidence and feedback from some of the 300 schools where 8,000 pupils took part. They said the projects had a hugely positive impact on improving engagement and attainment among the most disengaged children.
A study by Swansea University of Commando Joe’s, a Manchester-based project which provides trained mentors and activities for schools in some of the most deprived areas in the UK, found 56% of pupils taking part improved their maths grade while 70% showed improvement in writing.
Research and school feedback on the 3 other projects: Challenger Troop in Kent, Knowsley Skills Academy in Merseyside and SkillForce in Newcastle were also positive.
Mrs Truss, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, said, “The lives of thousands of disengaged children have been turned around thanks to these projects which instil our wonderful armed forces’ values of hard work and discipline. That is why we are increasing the funding going to these important projects – so that even more children can benefit from the military ethos.”
The projects instil teamwork, discipline and leadership in pupils through mentoring, outward bound activities and other group exercises focused on improving attainment and behaviour.
Activities include: • one-to-one mentoring skills to help address potential behaviour issues and keep pupils committed to their education • military-style obstacle courses to engage and motivate hard-to-reach pupils and help them understand how to transfer the elements which helped them succeed into the classroom • a mix of indoor and outdoor team-building exercises with an educational focus to encourage discipline, leadership, teamwork and good behaviour • working with schools and other agencies to re-integrate pupils who are not in education, employment or training and prepare them for post-16 courses or jobs • helping primary school children in their transition to secondary school through building their self-confidence
Grants were awarded in August 2012 to 4 organisations to deliver programmes through re-engagement with education and early intervention. More than 300 primary schools, secondary schools and pupil referral units are now being served by these providers with more than 8,000 of the most challenging pupils already taking part.
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, has called for local schools to get their pupils talking and learning about money, as part of a charity’s new campaign to help improve the financial capability of young people.
