John Penrose
Campaigns - Pensions
The state pension has become a means-tested benefit for the poor rather than an entitlement which people have earned through their contributions during their working life. We’ve been campaigning for better pensions by restoring the earnings related link, which has now become official Party Policy and would mean an extra £350 a year for single pensioners and £550 for couples.
John serves on the Work and Pensions Select Committee. He said: “I was delighted to be appointed to the committee. In the last session, it did good work holding the Government to account over Pensions Credit and the Child Support Agency. Now I’m on the Committee, I’ll be able to work with local groups like the Senior Citizens Forum to fight Weston’s corner. Two of my key priorities will be addressing the pensions timebomb and giving disabled people better opportunities to get jobs.”
The council tax revaluation of people’s homes will hit Weston’s residents hard. We are campaigning for lower council taxes through a fairer grant from central Government, so that pensioners can afford to stay in the houses they bought while they were working.
Updates
Forgotten cashThink again on CSA reform, says MPTake part in forum surveyMP's researchTory MP praises pension schemeMPs slam Brown's raid on pensionsMP Warns of ‘stealth tax’Property quiz can be ignored, says MPPenrose attacks council tax planMP warns homeowners will be taxed for improvementsWarning to labour over new IT systemMP recounts sad tale of claimantBenefits blamed for suicide bidsMP Investigating Workforce FiguresPension ReformTax CreditMP questioned on pensionsOaps Voice Fears Over PensionsCitizensCouncil Tax Bills For PrescottThousands In Tax ProtestMP Fights For Better Deals For PensionersPrescott Made To Pay Over Council Tax BillsJobcentre Staff Braced For Jobs AxeSocial Security Staff Face Job Loss ThreatPrescott Bill ProtestPensioner's Week Of National ProtestPensioners To Join DebateSend Your Tax Bill To PrescottPrescott ProtestMP Leads Delegates Seeking Fairer Tax DealDelegation Lobbies On BudgetFight for Fair dealGive us fair deal or services will sufferAlmost half tax credits are wrongAnger Over Council Tax Review SpyPetition Presented In The CommonsPensioners Seek End To ‘Unfair’ TaxMP warns on ID cardsMP'S Fears Over Cost Of Id Cards For Pensioners'Cost of ID cards will badly affect pensioners'ID card costs to hit pensionersOlder workers deserve better hearing servicesThousands call for ‘unfair’ tax to be scrappedMP Elected President Of Senior CitizensPensioners Petition Against Council TaxPenrose’s Priority To Address ‘Pensions Time Bomb’Key Role For Resort MPMP Makes Pledge To Fight For PensionersCollege To Axe Adult CoursesFunding Snub For Fit PensionersKeeping Fit At College Could Cost More Cash
Forgotten cash
2 August 2007 Weston & Worle News
Residents should look closely at their finances after it was revealed £60,000 is sitting in 160 forgotten bank accounts in the Weston area, says MP John Penrose.
He said: "It's amazing they have been forgotten.
"On average, each account holds £370. This is a big windfall for Weston. At a time when interest rates are high and mortgage repayments are stretching household budgets, extra cash will be a welcome break for many.
"There could even be a huge goldmine just waiting for someone to claim it."
Think again on CSA reform, says MP
22 March 2007 Weston & Worle News
The Government must think again about some of its proposals for replacing the Child Support Agency with a new body, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC), according to Weston MP John Penrose .
Mr Penrose was a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee which published its report last week on the Government's reform of the CSA.
He said the CSA had been a nightmare and it was absolutely right to shut it down and to establish the C-MEC.
"It will do a far better job of pursuing parents who won't shoulder their parenting responsibilities," he said.
"But we believe that the Government must think again about some of its proposals."
One of the biggest worries was the planned new IT system.
"The CSA built one, realised it didn't work, and built another.
"That one was a disaster too, and now they're planning a third," he said.
"No one has produced any evidence to show why this third attempt will be any better than the first two."
He said the Government was also considering whether to charge parents to use C-MEC.
"Given the awful experience of most parents with the CSA, it would be an insult to demand payment for having their lives ruined by a Government bureaucracy."
Take part in forum survey
26 April 2007 Cheddar Valley Gazette
Winscombe and Sandford Senior Citizens Forum is conducting a survey into the concerns and needs of older people in the Cheddar Valley.
The questionnaire is aimed at painting a picture of life in this part of the country for the over 55s.
John Ellis, chairman of the Winscombe, Sandford and District Senior Citizens Forum, which is co-ordinating the study, said: "We hear so many conflicting generalised messages about older people's concerns and needs, usually based on other people's assumptions. In the South West the 65+ group represents nearly 20 per cent of the population and probably more than 50 per cent of those who bother to vote, and as, such are a powerful group of people.
"It is therefore essential that we have the analysis to ensure that representative bodies such as the Forum and our membership of the South West Seniors' Network can honestly and accurately represent your views, your concerns and needs to Local Authorities, Regional Government South West, NHS South West and many other regional bodies that we can access in trying to improve the quality of our lives."
John Penrose , MP for Weston-super-Mare, said: "This district is lucky enough to have one of the most active and enthusiastic Senior Citizens' Forum in the country, who really stand up for the over 55's community.
"The Forum's work will help to identify their hopes and concerns and make sure their voice is heard loud and clear. Please lend your support by completing and returning the questionnaire."
MP's research
24 May 2007Weston & Worle News
Weston mp John Penrose has sponsored the launch of a global research project into attitudes towards ageing.
The Future Of Retirement study intends to dispel the myth that older people are a burden on society and is being conducted in association with HSBC and Oxford University.
Mr Penrose said: "This study will help to redefine an attitude and approach that too often leaves the older and retired community feeling like second-class citizens."
Tory MP praises pension scheme
5 April 2007, Weston & Worle News
Weston Conservative MP John Penrose has praised Government proposals for a new system of personal accounts for pension saving.
Mr Penrose said the new scheme would be a great idea and could give millions of people a high-quality, low-cost pension scheme for the first time.
But he warned the Government to keep management charges on the pensions low.
Mr Penrose, a member of the Work and
Pensions Select Committee which published a report on the proposals last week, said: "In theory, it is a great idea but low charges are crucial.
"The Government has proposed an annual management charge of up to 1.5 per cent, rather than the 0.5 per cent which was originally recommended.
"That will make one heck of a difference over the 40 years someone will save for a pension. it could mean up to 20 per cent less in savings."
Mr Penrose also highlighted what he believes is another problem in the scheme.
He said: "The Government hasn't got a clue who will collect the money from our pay packets each week or month, or how much they will charge to do it.
"That's a gaping hole in their plans.
"We think the money could potentially be collected through the PAYE tax system but the Government disagrees.
"We're very concerned that an over-bureaucratic or high-cost collection system could fatally damage the scheme from the start."
MPs slam Brown's raid on pensions
3 April 2007, Western Daily Press
MPs in the West yesterday poured more criticism on Chancellor Gordon Brown over the growing pensions tax credit scandal.
After a two-year battle with the Treasury using the Freedom of Information Act, a national newspaper obtained documents that showed Mr Brown had pushed through the abolition of the tax relief in his first Budget in 1997, despite warnings it would cost occupational and private pension funds up to £75 billion and make millions of pensioners worse off.
In the past few days, Mr Brown has faced a barrage of disapproval.
Conservative Weston MP John Penrose said: "The Chancellor's billion-pound raid on Britain's pension fund, which continues to reduce the value of people's pensions everywhere today, has caused an enormous amount of concern and ill-feeling among today's pensioners.
"The way the decision was made seems typical of both the Brown and Blair approach of using a very small clique of advisers who are not going to dare tell their master when he is making a bad decision."
Ken Lacey, chairman of Weston-super-Mare Senior Citizens' Forum, said Mr Brown's actions were "money-grabbing and 'politrickery' of the worst kind". "Politicians don't like admitting they've made a mistake but I think he should come out and say sorry," he said.
Tory former chancellor Kenneth Clarke said the abolition of the credit was "one of the worst decisions" Mr Brown had made and alleged it had been "smuggled" in.
His criticism of how decisions were made was backed by chairman of the National Association of Pensions Funds, Robin Ellison.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of British Industry has contradicted claims by Economic Secretary Ed Balls that they and civil servants had backed the move in the interests of the economy.
Lord Turner, CBI director general from 1995 to 1999, said Mr Balls's claim was "completely untrue".
"As the CBI has already made clear, at no time whatsoever did the CBI support the policy of removing the dividend tax credit."
Yeovil MP David Laws, the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said the abolition of the tax credit highlighted two "very big mistakes".
The first, he said, was that more money was taken from the pension fund than was put into corporation tax cuts. The second was that the Government ignored warnings."
MP Warns of ‘stealth tax’
16th February 2007
WESTON MP John Penrose is warning homeowners in Weston that the Government could be gathering information to impose regular council tax rebanding.
A number of residents have been sent detailed questionnaires by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about home improvements and property extensions so their council tax band can be adjusted if necessary.
At the moment council tax bands can only be changed when a house is sold. The VOA receives information about the property's floor plans from estate agents and any changes are imposed on the new owners.
However, Mr Penrose said that when a rebanding took place in Wales recently it created a 'stealth tax' where more houses had their bands raised than lowered, and the overall council tax bill went up.
He said: "After the concerns raised by local people last week, I've discovered there's no legal obligation to fill in this questionnaire at all.
"This just underlines people's concerns that the Government is developing a big brother database on every home, and that these questionnaires are paving the way for annual council tax revaluation - to tap into tax changes in house prices and the DIY boom.
"Not only is this a sign of more stealth taxes to come, but it is an unwelcome assault on the civil liberties and privacy of local people."
Peter and Margaret Maggs, of Knightcott Park in Banwell, were sent a questionnaire by the VOA. The couple had an extra dining room built onto the side of their bungalow six years ago and are now worried their council tax could go up.
Peter, retired, said: "The letter with the questionnaire said it was mandatory so I sent it back.
"If they revalued the property as soon as it was done, fair enough. But it looks as though this is a way for them to impose a stealth tax so they can take even more money from us."
Property quiz can be ignored, says MP
1 February 2007
Residents who have received questionnaires from the Valuation Office Agency asking about home improvements and extensions do not have to fill them in, according to Weston MP John Penrose.
As reported in last week's Weston & Worle News, a growing number of homeowners in North Somerset are being sent detailed questionnaires from the VOA. The survey is part of Government preparations for an annual council tax re-evaluation system which, according to Mr Penrose, would then be developed into 'a sinister Big Brother database of every home'.
Alarmed by the prospect that council tax bands could be changed at every revaluation, Mr Penrose took steps last week to investigate the legal situation of homeowners.
He said: "I've discovered there's no legal obligation to fill in this questionnaire at all.
"The Local Government Finance Act 1992 allows a valuation officer to serve notice on an owner or occupier requesting specified information in relation to the valuation of a dwelling.
"Failure to provide the information, or giving false information, is an offence.
"However, I have been told that, firstly, the power is seldom used and, secondly, the questionnaire does not constitute notice served under the Act.
"Apparently, the questionnaire is regarded by the Government as a 'cost-effective method of obtaining information' and one 'that is convenient to both the VOA and the householder, since the alternative might be the organisation of a visit by a VOA official.'
"If the VOA believes an internal inspection is necessary to revalue the council tax banding of a property, then the VOA staff are expected to make every effort to arrange a convenient appointment.
"Staff always carry and present identity cards that incorporate a photograph.
"The VOA does not have the power to enter a property forcibly.
"If entry is refused, they will normally make their 'best judgement about the correct band for the property'.
"However, the law does recognise that, sometimes, the VOA will require access in order to make a recommendation.
"In such cases, magistrates can impose a fine of up to £500 for intentionally obstructing a VOA inspector but this has not, to date, been applied."
Penrose attacks council tax plan
25 January 2007 Weston & Worle News
Weston MP John Penrose has condemned a new 'home improvement tax' which he says will punish people who have worked hard to invest in their houses.
Mr Penrose said several concerned residents had contacted him after they had been asked by the Government's Valuation Office Agency to give details about their homes.
The Weston MP said the survey was part of Government preparations for an annual council tax re-evaluation system.
Mr Penrose said: "Currently under the council tax system, material changes to a home are not taxed until a property is sold or until there is a revaluation. However, these annual reevaluations would mean that any home improvements would be taxed at every revaluation.
"In April, a new 'house price tax' is being introduced in Northern Ireland as a pilot for England.
"Under this system, any 'material' changes to the property will result in a larger tax bill in the year after the change is completed. In effect, local residents face a 'rolling revaluation'.
"Taxing home improvements, such as sheds, double glazing and conservatories, is an yet another stealth tax on family homes, punishing those who have worked hard and saved.
"Not only is this a sign of more stealth taxes to come, but it is an unwelcome assault on the civil liberties and privacy of local people. Conservatives are vigorously opposing these plans."
MP warns homeowners will be taxed for improvements
18 January 2007 Cheddar Valley Gazette
A warning that tax on home improvements is on the cards has come from a local MP.
Householders who have improved their homes in North Somerset are being approached by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) asking for details of any developments that might increase the value of their home.
MP John Penrose says he has been contacted by a number of concerned residents in Banwell and Winscombe who have already been asked for details about their homes.
Mr Penrose believes that the Government intends to introduce annual revaluations which would mean that any home improvements would be taxed every year.
So far the list of those contacted by the Halifax-based VOA appears to be linked to properties which have recently received planning permission from North Somerset District Council.
The letters, dated December 15, ask the householder to fill out a form and return it, and say that the inclusion of details of home improvements will "not necessarily" mean that future council tax valuations on the property would be higher.
Under the current council tax system, material changes to a home such as home improvements are not taxed until a property is sold, when the stamp duty on a more valuable property would be higher, or until there is a revaluation.
In April, a new council tax assessment system is being introduced in Northern Ireland as a pilot for England. Under the system, any major changes to a property, including new sheds, double glazing, patios, bathrooms, conservatories and extensions, will result in a larger tax bill in the year after the change is completed.
Mr Penrose said: "Taxing home improvements, such as sheds, double glazing and conservatories, is yet another stealth tax on family homes, punishing those who have worked hard and saved."
WARNING TO LABOUR OVER NEW IT SYSTEM
Weston & Worle News 16th November 2006
The Government's decision to purchase a new IT system to deliver incapacity benefit could be a huge 'cock-up', according to Weston MP John Penrose.
As a key member of the watchdog Work and Pensions Select Committee, Mr Penrose, pictured, has highlighted concerns about the move, which he claims exploits a little-used power to rush through the funding for the system.
He said: "The Government has decided it needs early money for an IT project to deliver the new incapacity benefits in the Welfare Reform Bill.
"It is using this power for only the second time ever because it wants to get the IT project started before the Welfare Reform Bill is fully debated, amended and passed next summer.
"The last time this power was used was to introduce the Child Support Agency system, and we all remember what a technical nightmare that became, and the number of personal problems and tragedies that followed in its wake.
"Given the Government's track record in large-scale IT 'cock-ups', I am uncomfortable with them ramming this through without detailed scrutiny.
"There are an awful lot of vulnerable people who will be badly hit if this system goes wrong."
MP RECOUNTS SAD TALE OF CLAIMANT
Weston & Worle News 16th November 2006
Weston MP John Penrose has been appointed as Conservative party spokesman on the key Standing Committee on Welfare Reform.
The group, which is investigating the Government's proposed changes to state benefits, is also looking at the system of housing benefit and trying to make it more efficient.
Mr Penrose said: "I have major concerns about the current system of encouraging claimants on incapacity benefits back to work.
"Just last week, a constituent who has a mental illness came to my surgery.
"He has been slowly recovering for the past 12 years, and had progressed far enough to hold down a job for a few hours every week. Quite legally, he was claiming disability benefits at the same time.
"His health kept on improving and he was offered a long-term job so, quite rightly, he went to the benefits office.
"But, instead of being encouraged to take the job, they sent him a letter telling him to repay nearly £20,000 in backdated benefit.
"The letter was wrong and he didn't owe them a penny, but it was too late.
"Because of his mental health problem, he went completely off the rails, ran away and tried to commit suicide. A formal complaint and appeal have been lodged.
"Seeing examples of how the system is failing locally makes me all the more determined. We must do more to simplify the benefits process and make it easier to understand."
BENEFITS BLAMED FOR SUICIDE BIDS
Cheddar Valley Gazette 9th October 2006
The confusing and complicated benefits system has driven three people to attempt suicide, a Cheddar Valley MP has said.MP John Penrose, whose Weston-super-Mare constituency covers Winscombe, Sandford and Churchill, said he had heard from three constituents who had tried to take their own lives because of errors and difficulties with the current incapacity benefits systems.
Mr Penrose said: "I have major concerns about the current system of encouraging claimants on incapacity benefits back to work.
"Just last week, a constituent came to my surgery. He's got a mental illness but had been slowly recovering for the past 12 years, and had got well enough to hold down a job for a few hours every week. Quite legally, he was claiming disability benefits at the same time.
"He improved so far that he was offered a long-term job. Quite rightly he went to the benefits office. But, instead of being encouraged to take the job, they sent him a letter telling him to repay nearly £20,000 in backdated benefit. The letter was wrong and he didn't owe them a penny, but it was too late. Anyone would be horrified to be suddenly told they owed all that money, but for someone with a mental health problem it was disastrous.
"He went completely off the rails, ran away and tried to commit suicide. A formal complaint and appeal have been lodged.
"But this isn't an isolated case. Earlier this year, I was contacted separately by the families of two constituents on incapacity benefits, who had been told to fill in a 37-page form to see if they could work. Both had Alzheimer's, so they can't hold down a job and they became very confused and distressed. Both of them tried to commit suicide although, thankfully, neither was successful.
"Seeing examples of how the system is failing locally makes me all the more determined. We must do more to simplify the benefits process and make it easier to understand."
Mr Penrose has been appointed as one of the Conservative Party's spokesmen on the key standing committee on welfare reform. The committee is currently investigating the Government's proposed changes to state benefits, set out in the recent Welfare Reform Bill.
The committee is trying to ensure that the benefits system is made simpler to understand. It is also trying to find ways to help people who are on incapacity benefit get back into work, including part-time voluntary work. It will also be looking at the system of housing benefit and trying to make it more efficient.
Mr Penrose said: "The Government's proposals are a step in the right direction, but for many people trapped on incapacity benefit it may too late."
MP INVESTIGATING WORKFORCE FIGURES
10th August 2006
Winscombe and Sandford MP John Penrose will be part of an investigation into the Government’s target to get 80 per cent of the population in employment.
Mr Penrose is a member of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee which has just announced an inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the Government’s employment strategy and the action required to achieve the aim of increasing the employment rate to 80 per cent.
Mr Penrose said: “One of the key issues will be whether 80 per cent is the right figure, or just one plucked out of the air to satisfy the spin doctors.
“I also want to study the impact that these proposals will have on voluntary full-time carers.
“I don’t want a situation where carers are being effectively forced to enter or return to work.
“In many cases their hard work and dedication is saving the Government and NHS huge amounts of money.
“The introduction of this employment rate could put them under enormous pressure to stop acting as a voluntary carer.
“Carers are a vital bond in families and communities. The Government’s proposals must protect and value their unique contribution.”
PENSION REFORM
4th August 2006
Weston’s MP has slammed Government proposals to reform the pension system as doing too little for tens of thousands of today’s pensioners in North Somerset.
John Penrose, who is a member of the parliamentary committee that has published a report into the recent Government proposals to change the pension system, has criticised the planned reforms.
Mr Penrose is concerned many of the proposals would not come fully into force until 2080. Government plans mean that restoring pension increases to earnings instead of inflation would not happen until 2012.
Mr Penrose said: “The Government paper does little to help today’s pensioners rather than tomorrow’s.
“It does not simplify what is currently the world’s most complicated pension system very quickly or significantly.”
Weston Senior Citizens’ Forum chairman Ken Lacey said: “These Government proposals have dashed the hopes of thousands of pensioners in North Somerset and we feel we have been sold down the river.”
TAX CREDIT
21st July 2006
Thousands of families and working parents need more support to tackle a crisis in the tax credit system, said Weston MP John Penrose.
Mr Penrose said Government figures show 3,500 families across his Weston constituency have had to pay back £2.8 million of child and working tax credit payments.
This amounts to each family having to repay £800 to the Government in a system that is supposed to help those on low incomes with children.
Mr Penrose is backing Conservative party leader David Cameron’s call to simplify the credits system and give extra cash to working parents for child care.
He said: “Thanks to all the paperwork and red tape, the benefits system is collapsing under the weight of its own complexity.
“Tax credits are becoming a major source of financial distress. Payments are often overpaid thanks to administrative bungling with families forced to pay back money after they have spent it.”
MP questioned on pensions
5th May 2006
A MEETING of a senior pressure group to discuss the pensions time bomb attracted over 100 people.
The Weston Senior Citizens' Forum held a question and answer session with the town's MP John Penrose in the United Reformed Church Hall in Waterloo Street.
The discussion centred around the findings of the Government sponsored Turner report into retirement pensions.
Among the topics under discussion were increasing the retirement age, the possibility of a universal pension and better pensions rights for women.
Mr Penrose called for future pension increases to be linked to earning rather than inflation which would see pensioners better off than under present arrangements.
He promised to ensure the voice of Weston's pensioners would be heard in Westminster by presenting the findings of the meeting to the works and pensions minister John Hutton.
Forum chairman Ken Lacey said: "It is good to know that action will be taken on the issues we talk about in Weston .
OAPS VOICE FEARS OVER PENSIONS
4th May 2006
Weston’s senior citizens have had their say on the Turner report into pensions, which could lead to people working until they’re 70.
The town’s MP, John Penrose, was guest speaker at the senior Citizens’ Forum on Friday at the Boulevard United Reform Church.
Around 80 turned out to hear how the report would affect them.
Chairman Ken Lacey said: “The south west was left out of the consultation on the turner report, which gives three options.
“They are to increase taxes or national insurance contributions, increase savings or increase the average retirement age.
“Any one of these would have quite a dramatic effect – to us savings is a strange word.
“We’re living longer and not saving enough but there are fewer very poor pensioners, though some of us may disagree with that.”
Mr Penrose said: “If we’re going to cure these problems it’s going to cost money; the question is, how much?
“If you increase taxes you would need an extra £57 billion by 2050.”
Members voted on a series of options, including keeping the retirement age as it is, or raising it to 65 or 70. The results will be passed on to the Government.
One speaker said: “Surely with the stress and strain of working until you’re 70, you’ll have more people kicking the bucket and so you’ll get less taxes?”
Another asked why Gordon Brown is planning to give so much money to education in South Africa when the country can’t afford to maintain a decent NHS
Citizens
28th April 2006
A pressure group has invited Weston’s MP to take part in a debate on pensions
The Weston senior Citizen’s forum will be holding a question and answer session with John Penrose about the consequences of a vital Government report on pensions.
The Turner Report says because people are living longer they should retire later.
Forum chairman ken Lacey said; “I can’t stress enough how important this meeting is. The changes proposed in the Turner report will affect pensioners and their children for generations to come.”
Council Tax Bills For Prescott
28th April 2006
Thousands of residents across North Somerset have protested against council tax by sending copies of their bill to the Deputy Prime Minister
Weston Senior Citizens’ forum leader Ken Lacey estimated about 4,000 disgruntled householders sent bills to the Government as part of a national protest against council tax increases – called Prescott Day.
Mr Lacey handed over more bills to the town’s MP John Penrose who promised to present them to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on the floor of the House of Commons.
Mr Lacey said: “This is definitely not the end of our protests against the council tax and we will continue for as long as it takes.
Thousands In Tax Protest
27th April 2006
Weston MP John Penrose took delivery of thousands of duplicate council tax bills from Senior Citizens' Forum chairman Ken Lacey, which were also sent to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister during Prescott Day.
Mr Lacey received around 4,000 copies of bills with protesters' comments written on them "in appropriate language", which Mr Penrose will present to the House of Commons to highlight pensioners' Is It Fair? campaign.
Mr Lacey writes in the May edition of the Forum's newsletter, The Trident Times: "Congratulations on your efforts to let Mr Prescott know what you feel about this obscene council tax.
"A fair estimate of how many council tax bills were sent from Weston is around 4,000, so many more than just our forum joined in.
"From across the country tens of thousands of council tax bills landed on Prescott's doormat.
"It has, however, been carefully staged managed by his department and not much factual information has come forward.
"Maybe it was too much of an embarrassment for him to be made aware that we peasants have to pay our bills and that so many of us do not like this unfair system.
"We have been promised we will all get a reply from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and some have already been received.
"They appear to be bog standard letters which did not answer our questions on "how do I pay this bill on my pension?", so many of us will be replying to Mr Prescott asking for our questions to be answered."
A pension reform debate to discuss the Turner Report following on from National Pension Day, will be held at the United Reformed Church Hall, Waterloo Street, tomorrow, at 2pm, with Mr Penrose as guest speaker.
MP fights for better deal for pensioners
Weston Mercury 14th April 2006
AN MP will be taking copies of villagers' council tax bills into Parliament to help him fight for better rights for pensioners.
Weston MP John Penrose has asked members of Winscombe and District Senior Citizens' Forum for copies of their council tax bills so he can challenge Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in the House of Commons.
Members of the forum have also been making a second copy of their bills to send directly to John Prescott.
They have included a covering letter asking why council tax continues to rise at a greater rate than the increase in pensions.
Forum members say their quality of life has suffered dramatically as a result of the tax hikes.
Forum chairman John Harrison said: "We are hoping Mr Penrose will be able to wave our bills in Parliament to argue our case and by sending them direct as well, it forms a double challenge.
"It is of real concern in this village. In my personal situation I moved here in the financial year 1999-2000.
"Seven years later my council tax has risen by 72 per cent in total whereas my pension has only risen by 38 per cent.
"When you add on today's excessive fuel bills, people's quality of life is really being adversely affected."
The forum's battle for better rights for pensioners joins a national campaign called Is It Fair?, which aims to reduce council tax bills for all.
Prescott Made To Pay Over Council Tax Bills
Weston & Worle News 13th April 2006
Thousands of angry council tax payers told the Deputy Prime Minister what he could do with their bills.
Weston’s Senior Citizens’ Forum chairman Ken Lacey received around 4,000 copies of council tax bills from Weston protestors on Prescott Day, which he will present to Weston MP John Penrose.
People were asked to write their “appropriate” comments across their council tax bill for 2006-7 and post them, preferably by registered post for maximum disruption, to arrive on Friday March 31.
Speaking at a forum meeting last Wednesday, Mr Lacey said when he called to ask how many bills they had received in Mr prescott’s London office he was told they hadn’t received any – they got sent to an external mailing house.
He said: “We have done extremely well.
“There must have been tens of thousands of bills sent altogether from all over the country.”
A pension reform debate to discuss the Turner report, organised by Mr Penrose following National Pension Day, will be held in Weston on Friday, April 28, at a venue to be confirmed.
Jobcentre Staff Braced For Jobs Axe
Weston & Worle News 13th April 2006
Redundancies are still on the cards for staff at Weston's Jobcentre Plus.
The office at Carlton House near Dolphin Square closed to the public on February 14, and the 43 remaining staff will stay there until it closes for good on Friday, June 23.
Some people will be transferred to an office in Bristol, but others may lose their jobs.
Staff at the centre went on strike in January after the Government demanded 30,000 job cuts across the Department of Work and Pensions.
Last month the Work and Pensions Committee published a critical report on the Government's plans, which condemned the Jobcentre Plus Contact Centres as suffering from a 'catastrophic failure' in customer service.
The committee's investigation found that the DWP's efficiency programme had been poorly planned, with management across the country struggling to solve "problems caused by the myriad of IT, staffing, process, telephony and financial programmes".
Weston MP John Penrose is a member of that committee, and visited the Jobcentre Plus and Social Security offices in Weston last Wednesday.
He said: "I was tremendously impressed with the dedication and hard work of the staff and management at the Weston centre, and I was struck by their determination to provide the best possible service in very difficult circumstances.
"Sadly, the Weston service is grappling with many of the national problems which we identified in the Work and Pensions Select Committee report.
"These include complex and awkward computer systems, new working practices and learning how to work with less experienced staff in distant call centres.
"It is vital that the best possible service is maintained for jobseekers and vulnerable benefit claimants in and around Weston."
The Government is expected to respond to the criticisms in the Select Committee's report in the next few weeks.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said: "We are talking to individual staff members.
"It is our aim to redeploy people to another post within DWP or to another Government department within the mobility arrangements that apply to each grade.
"Although we will try to maintain employment for as many staff as possible we cannot guarantee no redundancies.
"We will, however, do everything possible to ensure that compulsory redundancy is used as a last resort.
"Redundancies will take place only after all other options, including voluntary releases, have been considered."
Social Security Staff Face Job Loss Threat
Weston Mercury 7th April 2006
A public services union is warning that redundancies could be on the horizon among social security workers in Weston.
The office in Union Street closed to the public in February and will shut for good in June.
Only part of the workforce will be relocated to the job centre plus building in the High Street. The remaining workers will either be relocated to an office in Bristol or made redundant.
Public and Commercial Services Union representative Richard Capps said: “These changes are part of national Government restructuring, but quite a lot of staff have already left. It is quite a haemorrhage of talent and the remaining people face a very uncertain future.
“Because of the technology available, the people in Weston could carry on doing the processing work from here. This is what we will be pushing for rather than seeing these experienced and trained people thrown on the scrapheap.”
Weston’s MP John Penrose, a member of the Government’s work and pensions select committee, had a tour of the offices on Wednesday.
He said: “I was tremendously impressed by the dedication and the experience of the staff who are working in very trying circumstances in light of losing their jobs or being deployed elsewhere.
“They are determined to do the right thing by their clients and are grappling with many of the same issues that the select committee has identified and is aiming to resolve as a result of government spending cuts and efficiency savings.”
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said “There are 43 staff remaining at the office until all benefit processing work is moved to our Bristol office on 23 June. The building will then be handed back to the owner.
“We are talking to individual staff. It is our aim to redeploy people to another post within DWP or to another Government department within the mobility arrangements that apply to each grade.
“Although we will try to maintain employment for as many staff as possible we cannot guarantee no redundancies. We will however do everything possible to enure that compulsory redundancy is used as a last resort.
“Redundancies will only take place after all other options, including voluntary releases, have been considered.”
Prescott Bill Protest
23rd March Weston and Worle News
Council tax protesters are urged to make a stand on Friday, March 31, dubbed Prescott Day, by bombarding the office of the Deputy Prime Minister with their bills.
Weston Senior Citizen's Forum hopes to bring its Is It Fair campaign to the Government's attention by asking everyone to tell John Prescott what they think of the present local tax system.
People are asked to write their 'appropriate' comments across their council tax bill for 2006-7 and post them, preferably by registered post for maximum disruption, next Thursday for first class mail, or Wednesday for second class.
One copy should be sent to the Rt Hon John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU and a second copy to the forum chairman Ken Lacey at 10 Clarence Grove Road, Weston, BS23 4AQ.
The second copies will then be presented to Weston MP John Penrose, who is researching an alternative system of local taxation.
Conservative and Lib Dem councillors have also given the campaign their backing - Cllr Mike Roe spoke out against the tax at a recent meeting of pensioners and North Somerset Council executive member for finance Mike Bell said this week that he would be sending his bill to Mr Prescott.
Cllr Bell said: "Council tax bills have more than doubled since the tax was introduced in 1993 and it has got to stop."
"The Government determines the majority of funding to local councils but would prefer to keep their heads down and accept no responsibility.
"It's time we made John Prescott and his cronies sit up and take notice.
"On Friday, March 31, we can send a powerful message that the unfair council tax has got to go."
Pensioner's Week Of National Protest
Cheddar Valley Gazette 23rd March 2006
Members of the Winscombe and District Pensioner's Group joined in a week of protest and activity as part of a nationwide campaign to improve the basic state pension for Britain's 11 million older people. The Pensions Action Week has been organised by the country's biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), in an effort to influence the government before it publishes its white paper on pensions reform later in the spring.
The recent report by the Pensions Commission, led by Lord Turner, makes no suggestions that would be of immediate benefit to existing pensioners - merely a recommendation that in five years' time pensioners should get an extra £1.36 a week on their state pension.
The Winscombe Forum of Senior Citizens is supporting the National Pensioners Convention in urging the government to introduce the following urgent measures:
Raise the basic state pension to at least £114 a week.
Restore the link between pensions and earnings.
Pay the full state pension to all men and women.
The convention submits that the country can afford to pay these improvements and what is achieved today will benefit future generations.
During the Action Week many thousands of people took part in peaceful rallies throughout the country with the final rally taking place outside the TUC Headquarters in London on Saturday, March 18.
Local MP John Penrose is urging the government to bring the debate on the future of pension reforms to his constituency.
On March 18, the government held simultaneous, satellite-linked consultation events in six cities across the UK: Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham, Swansea, Newcastle and London.
However, Mr Penrose said that the choice of the six cities will leave people from the South West excluded, and risks stifling the views of the rural community.
Mr Penrose said: "The government's National Pensions Debate is all very well as far as it goes.
"But where is the input from the South West? Where is the input from the smaller towns and rural areas going to come from? The nearest venue is a city 100 miles away in Birmingham or over the Severn Bridge in Swansea.
"Here we have one of the most active and well-informed senior citizens' forum in the country. We have one of the largest pensioner communities per head of population in the region. We are ideally placed to contribute to this debate."
Pensioners To Join Debate
Weston and Worle News 16th March 2006
Weston MP John Penrose has criticised the Government for excluding the town from a pension reform debate.
On Saturday, the Government is holding satellite-linked consultation events in Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham, Swansea, Newcastle and London, prompting Mr Penrose to plan one, with the help of the Senior Citizens' Forum, in Weston for Friday, April 21.
The results will be sent to work and pensions secretary John Hutton and the work and pensions select committee, which is due to study the Turner Report later this year.
Mr Penrose said: "The Government's National Pensions Debate is all very well, as far as it goes. But where is the input from the South West?
"Where is the input from the smaller towns and rural areas going to come from?
"Here in Weston we have one of the most active and well-informed senior citizens' forums in the country.
"We have one of the largest pensioner communities per head of population in the region.
We are ideally placed to contribute to this debate."
Send Your Tax Bill To Prescott
Bristol Evening Post 21st February 2006
A CAMPAIGNER in North Somerset is calling on local pensioners to send their council tax bills to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott as a protest against inflation-busting rises.
Ken Lacey, chairman of the Weston-super-Mare Senior Citizens Forum, is helping to co-ordinate the protest which will see thousands of photocopied council tax bills sent to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with written personal comments on them.
People in the region are now facing bumper household bills of more than £2,000 as council tax soars alongside the recently announced gas and electricity prices hikes.
Pensioners will send the letters just before March 31 - dubbed Prescott Day - 24 hours before new bills are sent out.
They hope to flood the department with letters, causing chaos for Mr Prescott's office.
Many will send the letters by recorded delivery so they have to be signed for, creating extra work.
And pensioners in Devon and Cornwall have threatened to stop paying their council tax altogether.
Mr Lacey, a former mayor of Weston, said: "Pensioners are going to struggle to pay for all these increases and we want the Government to do something about it.
"We will encourage people to explain on their bills why the increases are too much and how much they will lose out.
"I'm not sure if Mr Prescott has ever seen a council tax bill before but he will hopefully see thousands on March 31."
Gas and electricity suppliers have already announced rises in prices of up to 22 per cent.
When combined with the council tax, it means people could be spending more than £2,000 on domestic bills.
The situation has been made worse for pensioners as they have not been offered a repeat of the £200 council tax rebate produced before the last General Election.
Residents in Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Dorset all face council tax increases of about five per cent.
It will take council tax bills well above the £1,000 mark for the average band D property.
In Gloucestershire, the rise is a relatively modest 3.5 per cent, but pensioners in the area still plan to write to Mr Prescott.
"We're planning to send a copy of our rates bill to Mr Prescott and we encourage people to tell him what they think," said Kenneth Clark, chairman of the Gloucestershire Pensioners Forum.
He believes more than 1,200 members will be taking part in the protest.
"We want to point out that our state pensions will not cover the cost of increases in bills," he said.
"We're appealing to all the pensioners in Gloucestershire and beyond to support this scheme."
People fear the tax increases will mean a grim year, as some councils plan to slash social services, libraries and road maintenance, together with hundreds of redundancies, to keep the council tax at a minimum.
Weston MP John Penrose said: "The problem with council tax is that it has more than doubled since 1997.
"Whether it increases this year by five per cent or six per cent it doesn't alter the fact that council tax is too high for the services provided."
Prescott Protest
Weston and Worle News 21st Feb 2006
Pensioners across the West are planning a mass paper protest against another year of inflation-busting council tax rises. Campaigners are calling for the elderly to send the bank-breaking bills to John Prescott in a show of solidarity and defiance.
Thousands of photocopied council tax bills will be sent to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with written personal comments on them.
Residents in the region are facing bumper household bills of more than £2,000 as council tax soars alongside the recently announced gas and electricity prices hikes.
Pensioners will send the letters just before March 31 - dubbed Prescott Day - 24 hours before new bills are sent out.
They hope to flood the department with letters, causing chaos for Mr Prescott's office.
Many will send the letters recorded delivery so they have to be signed for, creating extra work.
And pensioners in Devon and Cornwall have threatened to stop paying their council tax alto gether.
Ken Lacey, chairman of the Weston-super-Mare Senior Citizens Forum is helping to co-ordinate the protest. He said: "Pensioners are going to struggle to pay for all these increases and we want the Government to do something about it.
"We will encourage people to explain on their bills why the increases are too much and how much they will lose out.
"I'm not sure if Mr Prescott has ever seen a council tax bill before but he will hopefully see thousands on March 31."
Gas and electricity suppliers have already announced rises in prices of up to 22 per cent.
When combined with the council tax, it means people could be spending more than £2,000 on domestic bills.
The situation has been made worse for pensioners as they have not been offered a repeat of the £200 council tax rebate produced before the last General Election.
Residents in Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Dorset all face council tax increases of about five per cent.
It will take council tax bills well above the £1,000 mark for the average band D property.
In Gloucestershire, the rise is a relatively modest 3.5 per cent, but there too pensioners have their envelopes poised.
"We're planning to send a copy of our rates bill to Mr Prescott and we encourage people to tell him what they think, " said Kenneth Clark, chairman of the Gloucestershire Pensioners Forum.
He believes more than 1,200 members will be taking part in the protest. "We want to point out that our state pensions will not cover the cost of increases in bills, " he said. "We're appealing to all the pensioners in Gloucestershire and beyond to support this scheme."
People fear the tax increases will mean a grim year, as some councils plan to slash social services, libraries and road maintenance, together with hundreds of redundancies, to keep the council tax at a minimum.
Tory MP for Weston John Penrose said: "The problem with council tax is that it has more than doubled since 1997. Whether it increases this year by five per cent or six per cent it doesn't alter the fact that council tax is too high for the services provided."
MP Leads Delegates Seeking Fairer Tax Deal
Weston and Worle News 19th January 2006
Councillors from North Somerset travelled to London to try to convince the Government to give them a fairer deal when it comes to council tax.
The delegation, including Weston MP John Penrose and council leader Cllr Alan Hockridge, lobbied local government minister Jim Fitzpatrick in Whitehall.
Cllr Mike Bell, executive member for finance, said: "The Minister gave us a fair hearing and listened to our case, but we need action and not just warm words.
"North Somerset has the seventh lowest Government grant of any unitary council in England and we are the fifth lowest spending.
"We have exceeded targets on efficiency gains, identified £7 million in savings for next year and been able to restrict the council tax rise to 4.9 per cent - and we will do more.
"We need to be freed from the straight-jacket of Government interference and underfunding."
Mr Penrose said: "This was a useful meeting. I'm under no illusions that we will get instant results.
"However it's important that we all work together on a cross-party basis to build a constructive dialogue with the Government for future years.
"North Somerset hasn't received a good local government settlement, although the council has got more than it was actually expecting.
"Even so, it looks like our council tax will be going up yet again, this time by the maximum allowable under the Government's capping regime, 4.9 per cent.
"Local residents are going to feel the pinch and I'm worried that public services are going to suffer."
Delegation Lobbies On Budget
Cheddar Valley Gazette 19h Jan 2006
A delegation of civic leaders from North Somerset have been lobbying the government over the local authority budget. North Somerset councillors Alan Hockridge, Mike Roe and Mike Bell attended the meeting in Westminster along with local MP John Penrose, who welcomed what he described as a "useful" meeting with Local Government Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.
Mr Penrose said: "I'm under no illusions that we will get instant results.
"However, it's important that we all work together on a cross-party basis to build a constructive dialogue with the government for future years.
"North Somerset hasn't received a good local government settlement, although the council has got more than it was actually expecting.
"Even so, it looks like our council tax will be going up yet again, this time by the maximum allowable under the government's capping regime, at 4.9 per cent.
"Local residents are going to feel the pinch and I'm worried that public services are going to suffer.
"I was keen for the minister to recognise the specific issues and unique problems within North Somerset. We're lagging behind on health funding, our schools get less money than other similar parts of the country, and we need serious investment in local transport links like junction 21 of the M5.
"If nothing else, I think we made a strong case for better funding next time round.
"I am pleased the minister agreed to take what we said into consideration and I will be reminding him of his comments when the final council tax figures come up for parliamentary debate."
Fight for Fair deal
Weston Mercury 13th January 2006
A delegation of councillors and Weston MP John Penrose has lobbied a Government minister for a fairer deal for North Somerset
North Somerset Council leader Councillor Alan Hockridge headed the group which met with local government minister Jim Fitzpatrick in Whitehall on Tuesday.
The executive member for finance, Cllr Mike Bell, Conservative group leader Cllr Mike Roe, council finance director Phil Hall as well as Mr Penrose helped campaign for more money for the authority.
In a 30-minute meeting, the group discussed a range of issues including the amount of cash the council received from Government for 2006/7.
The delegation also pointed out the proportion of older people living in the area is 25 per cent above the national average, which puts added pressure on council services.
Cllr Bell said: “It was a productive exercise and the minister gave us a fair hearing about the issues facing North Somerset. However, we need action, not just warm words.
“We have the seventh lowest Government grant of any unitary council in England and we are the fifth lowest spending. The council is not asking for special favours, but a fair deal.
“We realise nothing will change in the short term but we feel we have to put down a marker and, in that context, we will keep up the pressure on the Government.”
Give us fair deal or services will suffer
Bristol Evening Post 13h Jan 2006
A Group of senior North Somerset councillors has returned from London after attempting to secure more Government funding in future years.
Council leader Alan Hockridge, executive member for finance Mike Bell, and Tory group leader Mike Roe had a meeting with Local Government Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.
They argued that North Somerset had consistently been underfunded by the Government, with the result that it was forced to increase council tax.
The authority's ruling Liberal Democrat group is recommending an increase of 4.9 per cent for the coming financial year, but other political groups will be putting forward alternative budgets at next Tuesday's council meeting.
The new tax level is due to be set on February 28.
The North Somerset delegation to see the Minister on Tuesday was joined by Weston-super-Mare's Tory MP, John Penrose.
Mr Penrose said: "This was a useful meeting. I'm under no illusions that we will get instant results.
"However it's important that we all work together on a cross-party basis to build a constructive dialogue with the Government for future years.
"North Somerset Council hasn't received a good local government settlement, although the council has got more than it was actually expecting.
"Even so, it looks like our council tax will be going up yet again, this time by the maximum allowable under the Government's capping regime.
"Local residents are going to feel the pinch and I'm worried that public services are going to suffer.
"I was keen for the Minister to recognise the specific issues and unique problems within North Somerset.
"We're lagging behind on health funding, our schools get less money than other similar parts of the country and we need serious investment in local transport links. I wanted the Minister to acknowledge that we have pockets of serious deprivation right in the heart of Weston." Mr Bell said: "The Minister gave us a fair hearing and listened to our case. However, we need action and not just warm words.
"North Somerset has the seventh-lowest Government grant of any unitary council in England and we are the fifth-lowest in terms of spending.
"We have exceeded targets on efficiency gains, identified £7 million in savings for next year and been able to restrict the council tax rise to 4.9 per cent - and we will do more.
"However, we need to be freed from the straightjacket of Government interference and underfunding.
"We are not asking for special favours, but a fair deal.
"This will not be the end of our fight and we will keep up the pressure to redress this historic injustice to North Somerset taxpayers."
Almost half tax credits are wrong
Cheddar Valley Gazette 15th Dec 2005
Some mid-Somerset families claiming Child and Working Tax Credits are receiving incorrect payments, in some cases receiving thousands of pounds too much or too little each year, reflecting a national problem. According to figures released by HM Revenue and Customs, just under half of all claimants in the UK received incorrect payments for 2003 to 2004 - 713,000 were underpaid by a total of £464 million and a further 1,879,000 were overpaid by a total of £1,931 million.
While Child and Working Tax Credits have raised the monthly incomes of millions of families across the country, the system has been widely criticised since its introduction in 2003 because of the way the money is distributed and then excess payments clawed back.
John Penrose, MP for Weston-super-Mare and a member of the work and pensions select committee, said: "Virtually every week someone comes to me in desperation over problems with tax credits.
"The system is a shambles. It seems that for every one correct assessment, another two are overpaid, underpaid, being reassessed or simply lost in the system."
In the Mendip district 10,600 awards were granted for 2003-2004, but of these 1,300 awards were underpaid by a total of £800,000 and 3,400 were overpaid by a total of £3.6 million.
An incorrect or delayed assessment can cause severe financial problems and distress for many families.
Underpayment results in immediate hardship and overpayment can cause problems later on as families, who are often unaware a mistake has been made, struggle to re-pay their debts long after the money has been spent.
John Penrose said: "Last year nearly 50 per cent of the tax credit claims in our constituency had been assessed incorrectly.
"That is simply not good enough and it doesn't appear to be getting any better. The cost last year of dealing with the appeals and complaints was £15 million.
"It is not just low income families who are affected by the tax credit chaos - every single taxpayer in the country is picking up the bill.
"According to the Inland Revenue's own figures, the number of calls made to the tax credit helpline exceeded 100 million by July this year.
"More than half of these callers, 53 million, got an engaged tone or abandoned the call while stuck in a queue."
Anger Over Council Tax Review Spy
24th November 2005
Weston MP John Penrose has slammed hi-tech government attempts to search out houses with a view or a big garden and bump up their council tax bills.
A new American computer system, costing an estimated £45million, will pick up on properties with a sea or hill view and identify those with large patios, greenhouses, garages or conservatories, according to internal Whitehall documents on the forthcoming council tax revaluation.
Mr Penrose said: "The Government has so far spent £60 million on revaluation, of which an estimated £45 million has been paid for a new American computer system - so-called Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal.
"Parliamentary Questions reveal the Government is using the system to collect a new range of 'value' indicators on individual homes.
"This will allow the Government to impose higher council tax on properties with those indicators.
"Thousands of homes across the Weston constituency could be identified and penalised with higher council tax simply because they enjoy a view of the sea, Worlebury Hill or the Somerset countryside. The spy system will even detect what size and sort of conservatory has been erected."
He recently presented a petition to the House of Commons on behalf of local pensioners' forums, calling for the council tax to be replaced with a system that takes into account ability to pay.
Petition Presented In The Commons
Cheddar Valley Gazette 17th November 2005
Local MP John Penrose has presented a petition to the Speaker of the House of Commons on the council tax system.
The petition was presented on behalf of local Pensioners' Forums, which have collected more than 2,000 signatures calling for the council tax to be replaced with one that takes into account the ability to pay.
Mr Penrose, who is president of the Winscombe Senior Citizens' Forum, said: "Since 1997, council tax in North Somerset has roughly doubled and I haven't met a single person who thinks they are getting twice as much value or service as they were in 1997.
"The system needs to be reformed because clearly it's poor value for money, particularly for people on fixed incomes.
"Council tax has gone up much faster than the state pension or benefits.
"I am grateful to the Pensioners' Forum for organising this petition, and I am delighted that so many people felt able to sign it.
"Council tax is an issue that is simply not going to go away. Council tax bills continue to spiral, affecting many pensioners and others on low incomes."
Pensioners Seek End To ‘Unfair’ Tax
Bristol Evening Post 15th November 2005
A petition signed by more than 2,000 Weston-super-Mare people demanding the abolition of the council tax is one of the largest of its kind to be handed into Parliament.
The petition calls on ministers to scrap the “unfair” property-based tax and replace it with a new local tax based on income.
It is one of 30 petitions from across the country organised as part of the IsItfair campaign.
It reads; “The petition declares that the year-on-year inflation busting increases in council tax are causing hardship to many and take no account of ability to pay.
“The petitioners therefore request that the house of Commons vote to replace council tax with a fair and equitable tax that, without recourse to any supplementary benefit, takes into account ability to pay from disposable income.”
Councillors aim to increase the tax by less than five per cent next year but will need to make an estimated £4.6 million of savings to do so.
The petition was presented on behalf of elderly people in the resort by Conservative MP John Penrose. He said “Council tax in North Somerset has more than doubled since 1997 and I don’t think a single person would argue that council services are now twice as good.”
MP warns on ID cards
Weston and Worle News 27th October
Pensioners will be badly affected if they are forced to pay for national identity cards, Weston MP John Penrose has warned.
Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the introduction of ID cards, Mr Penrose warned that the likely cost of the card, estimated at between £93 and £300, would fall most heavily on those least able to afford it.
He said: “In my constituency, we have a large proportion of pensioners who are often on fixed incomes.
“Many of them will find it extremely hard to pay that additional tax, struggling as they are already with a number of other cost increases.”
The Bill was eventually passed with a majority of only 25, after a number of Labout backbenchers voted against the Government.
It will now be considered by the House of Lords.
MP'S Fears Over Cost Of Id Cards For Pensioners
Cheddar Valley Gazette 27th October 2005
Winscombe-based Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose has warned that local pensioners will be badly affected if they are forced to pay for national identity cards.
Speaking in Parliament earlier this week during the debate on the Government's controversial ID card, Mr Penrose warned that the likely cost of the card, estimated at between £93 and £300, would fall most heavily on those least able to afford it.
Mr Penrose said: "In my constituency we have a large proportion of pensioners, who are often on fixed incomes.
"Many of them will find it extremely hard to pay that additional tax, struggling as they are already with a number of other cost increases."
In an earlier debate on the Bill Mr Penrose had warned about the dangers of building a detailed IT database on every citizen.
He said: "It is a facet of totalitarian regimes to hold large quantities of data on their citizens which is not shared by freedom-loving democracies, such as Britain.
"It is no accident that, if we compare what happens in this country with what happened in East Germany, for example, before the Berlin Wall came down, we would see that there were thousands and thousands of detailed files on each of their citizens."
The Bill was eventually passed with a majority of just 25 after a number of Labour backbenchers voted against the government. It will now be considered by the House of Lords.
'Cost of ID cards will badly affect pensioners'
Western Morning News 22nd October 2005
Weston-super-mare mp John Penrose has warned that pensioners will be badly affected if they are forced to pay for national identity cards. Speaking in Parliament earlier this week during the debate on the Government's controversial ID card, Mr Penrose warned that the likely cost of the card, estimated at between £93 and £300, would fall most heavily on those least able to afford it.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Penrose cautioned MPs that the cost of the cards would be "a regressive tax... likely to fall most heavily on some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the public.
"In my constituency, we have a large proportion of pensioners, who are often on fixed incomes. Many of them will find it extremely hard to pay that additional tax, struggling as they are already with a number of other cost increases." In an earlier debate on the Bill, Mr Penrose had warned about the dangers of building a detailed IT database on every citizen. He said: "It is no accident that, if we compare what happens in this country with what happened in East Germany, for example, before the Berlin wall came down, we would see that there were thousands and thousands of detailed files on each of their citizens."
ID card costs to hit pensioners
Bristol Evening Post 20th October 2005
Pensioners will be hit hardest by the cost of controversial identity cards, Weston-super-Mare’s MP has warned.
Tory MP John Penrose said the spiralling costs of the scheme will fall “most heavily on some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the public”.
Joint “biometric” passport and ID cards are likely to cost around £93, although cut-price stand-alone ID cards will be available for £30.
The Home Office claims the total cost of the scheme will be £5.8bn but the London school of economics says a bill of £19.3bn is more likely.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Penrose said the cost would be a “regressive tax” which would bear no relation to the ability to pay.
He warned MPs: “In my constituency, we have a large proportion of pensioners, who are often on fixed incomes.
“Many of them will find it extremely hard to pay that additional tax, struggling as they are already with a number of other cost increases.”
The Government suffered a series of backbench revolts during last night’s third reading of the legislation.
The Bill passed into the House of Lords after ministers won the final vote by 309 votes to 284. the Bill is expected to receive a further mauling by peers.
The majority of just 25 – less than half Tony Blair’s notional margin of 66 – was the lowest since Labour won a third term in May.
There were also 25 Labour rebels, the largest revolt since the General Election.
The region’s Labor backbenchers Roger Berry, Doug Naysmith, Dawn Primarolo, Kerry McCarthy and Dan Norris – all backed the plans.
Opposition MPs John Penrose, Liam Fox and Stephen Williams voted against the bill. Earlier, the Home Office attempted to calm backbench MPs’fears by pledging that ID cards would contain only the personal details currently held on passports.
That would include a person’s name, date and palce of birth, gender, address and nationality – but with no link to more sensitive data, such as that held on the police national computer.
Andy Burnham, a junior Home Office minister, said: “it is not, and never has been, our intention to create an elaborate database that will seek to hold detailed personal profiles on every individual.”
Older workers deserve better hearing services
Bristol Evening Post 19th October 2005
People should have better access to hearing tests in order to help them stay in work, says Weston-super-Mare’s MP.
Tory John Penrose is a member of the parliamentary committee looking at government proposals to reform incapacity benefits.
He said:” “Our workforce is getting older, yet too often many people do not get the support they need when they are in their 50s or 60s to keep a job.
“A hearing test and the provision of a digital hearing aid is sometimes all that is needed to help someone with a hearing loss stay in work.”
“Over the past few months a number of constituents have asked for my help getting audiology tests. There is at least an eighteen month waiting list at Weston General Hospital for the tests, with between 250 and 270 new patients being referred every year.
“Unfortunately the hospital is getting more referrals for hearing aids than they have money from North Somerset PCT.
Mr Penrose made his comments after having his hearing tested by Royal National institute for the Deaf.
He added: “Ironically the specialist audiologist who carried out my hearing test on behalf of the RNID had applied for a post at Weston General Hospital. They hadn’t had the resources to employ her.”
Weston Area Health Trust spokeswoman, caroline Thomas said it had been fitting the latest digital hearing aids as standard to all new audiology patients since December 2004.
However, she said: Time has been taken up training our staff to perform this assessment, which has caused our waiting times to increase, and the fitting appointments take longer than previously, which has also had an adverse effect.
“The waiting time is also an unfortunate consequence of the financial challenges facing the North Somerset health community at present.
“We now have more than 300 patients waiting for assessment, which means we have more referrals than there is money available from our primary care trust partners with which to bur hearing aids.
“We apologise to patients as we realise the wait is extraordinarily long, but we are limited by the amount of money which the PCT is able to give us for this purpose.
“Once patients have been assessed we can assure them their hearing aid will be issued within four weeks and they will be seen again for a review after three months.”
Thousands call for ‘unfair’ tax to be scrapped
Bristol Evening Post 17th October 2005
More than 2,000 people in Weston-super-Mare have signed a petition calling for the council tax to be scrapped.
They are calling for a new system based on income, not property.
The names were collected by members of the Weston Senior Citizens’ Forum, which has been a strong critic of the current tax system.
Ken Lacey, Forum chairman, presented the petition to Weston’s Tory MP, John Penrose, outside Weston Town hall on Saturday.
Mr Lacey said: “The council tax is a major issue and a national issue.
“We want a reform based on income and not on property.”
Although North Somerset Council’s largest party, the Liberal Democrats, has said it will try to limit any council tax rise to a maximum of 5 per cent, Mr Lacey does not believe this will be possible.
He said: “I am sure it will be in double figures.”
Mr Lacey said similar petitions had been organised in more than 200 constituencies around the country and that 55 MPs, including Mr Penrose, would be presenting them to the government from the floor of the House of Commons.
Mr Penrose, who is president of the Winscombe Senior Citizens’ forum, said: “Since 1997, council tax in North Somerset has roughly doubled and I haven’t met a single person who thinks they are getting twice as much value or service as they were in 1997.
“The system needs to be reformed because clearly it’s poor value for many, particularly for people on fixed incomes. Council tax has gone up much faster than the state pension or benefits.”
Mr Penrose claimed the council tax was a stealth tax because council tax payers were being required to fund services which were normally paid for by central government.
MP Elected President Of Senior Citizens
CHEDDAR VALLEY GAZETTE 6TH OCTOBER 2005
MP John Penrose was appointed president of the Winscombe and District Senior Citizens' Forum at its September meeting.
Mr Penrose is to sit on the work and pensions select committee at Westminster.
He said: "There is a great deal to do.
"Pensioners have established a strong voice and their concerns and opinions must be listened to.
"I promise to do everything possible to see that such views are taken into account. The select committee will scrutinise the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, with incapacity benefits and pensions being high on the committee's agenda.
Mr Penrose was at Winscombe Community Centre on Friday. The meeting was also addressed by district councillors Ann Harley and Tony Lake and also the chairman of Winscombe Parish Council, Cllr Chris Sampson.
Each speaker in turn explained their work as councillors and emphasised the strong working bonds between the district and parish council.
The decision of the government to defer the revaluation of property for council tax assessment provoked a heated debate.
The decision was welcomed but the district councillors said they were in no doubt that the reason was that the proposal was proving unpopular with voters.
They warned that the deferral was simply a means of putting off the day until after the next General Election.
Pensioners Petition Against Council Tax
WESTON & WORLE NEWS 8TH SEPT 2005
Members of the Winscombe Senior Citizens' Forum are distributing a petition calling for changes to council tax. At the last meeting of the forum in July, the group agreed to support a petition to Parliament prepared by the Isitfair Council Tax protest campaign.
Each constituency will present this petition through its MP, and John Penrose is to present the petition on behalf of the Winscombe pensioners.
The petition asks the House of Commons to vote to replace council tax with a tax that takes in the ability to pay.
Penrose’s Priority To Address ‘Pensions Time Bomb’
Cheddar Valley Gazette 21st July 2005
Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose, whose constituency includes Winscombe, Sandford and Churchill, has been appointed to the work and Pensions Select Committee in Parliament.
Mr Penrose said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the committee. In the last session, it did good work holding the Government to account over Pensions Credit and the Child Support Agency.
“Now I’m on the Committee, I’ll be able to work with local groups like the Senior Citizens Forum to fight Weston’s corner.
“Two of my key priorities will be addressing the pensions timebomb and the need to put local jobs before yet more new housing build.”
Key Role For Resort MP
Bristol Evening Post 14th July 2005
John Penrose, Weston-super-Mare’s new MP, has been handed a key role in scrutinising the Government's pensions policy
Conservative Leader Michael Howard nominated Mr Penrose to serve as a member of the powerful work and pensions select committee.
The job will give the MP a high profile position as the committee examines the attempts of work and pensions secretary David Blunkett to solve the pensions crisis. The Government is grappling with the issue of whether to raise the retirement age and whether to introduce compulsory pensions.
Last year, an interim report from the Pensions Commission estimated that more than 12 million people are not saving enough for their retirement.
The commission will deliver its final report in November. Earlier this year the work and pensions committee produced a damning report concerning the beleaguered Child support Agency
MP Makes Pledge To Fight For Pensioners
Weston Mercury 14th July 2005
Weston MPJohn Penrose, has vowed to fight for pensioners’ rights after being appointed as a member of a prominent committee in Parliament
Mr Penrose, who was elected as a conservative MP on May 5th, has joined the Works and Pensions Select Committee.
The first meeting of the 11-person body took place on Tuesday to come up with a list of issues to tackle the Government over.
Mr Penrose said: “I was asked to be on the committee because of the high number of constituents in Weston who are retired.
“I will be able to work with groups like the senior citizens’ Forum to fight weston’s corner.
“This is an extremely important issue as everyone realises there is a demographic timebomb regarding pensions.
“This committee will look at the issue and say to the Government, “What are we going to do about it?’
“The Conservative Party is in favour of raising state pensions in line with earnings rather than just prices.
“State pensions are too low and too many pensioners rely on going cap in hand to the Government for means-tested benefits. This is demeaning and takes away their independence.”
The purpose of select committees is to hold the Government to account and they reflect the parties’ composition in the House of Commons.
The committee for works and pensions has six Labour members, three Tories and two Liberal Democrats.
Weston Senior Citizens’ forum chairman Ken Lacey said; “we are pleased with this appointment because we feel John Penrose can have an impact on what we are trying to do about problems faced by pensioners.”
College To Axe Adult Courses
Bristol Evening Post 1st July
Adult Education courses at Weston College could be axed due to financial cutbacks. The college runs about 1,200 courses, but principal Dr Paul Phillips said some may have to be dropped later this year. Among the courses under threat are yoga and keep-fit. The move is a result of the Government’s pledge to put more money into further education for 16 to 19 year olds.
Weston’s new Tory MP John Penrose, who is a college governor, has raised the issue this week at a private meeting with Further education Minister Bill Rammell.
Mr Penrose said many of the college’s courses were particularly popular with Weston’s pensioners.
He said: “These courses are a vital part of the College’s role in our community. The proposed Government funding settlement will see funding slashed from their budget. I fear that the College has been left with little option but to make cuts.
“Axing the courses will be a real kick in the teeth for Weston’s senior citizens.
“As a Governor of the College I know that many of t