John Penrose

Conservative Party | Weston-super-Mare

Success for MP’s campaign to support local victims of the recession

26 May 2009

Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose was celebrating this week after persuading the Government to take stronger action to help local people apply for crisis loans.

Mr Penrose had contacted Government Ministers after Westonians found they couldn't contact the Crisis Loan centre. When they called, many calls either weren't answered or were disconnected. If they managed to get through they were told that all operators were busy and to call back later, and then their calls were dropped.

The Government's announcement is another coup for the South West MP’s campaign. The West of England Jobcentre Plus has already promised Mr Penrose to improve local Crisis Loan call centre resources, and now the Government has made a national commitment as well.

The Minister's letter promises to increase the number of staff from 750 to 1,800 people, to cope with the huge national increase in Crisis Loan applications from 225,000 a month last year to 275,000 in January this year.

John Penrose said: "Crisis Loans are supposed to provide urgent help for anyone suffering from an emergency or disaster and who has nowhere else to turn. Given the current economic climate it's a vital lifeline. More and more people are finding that they need the help that it can provide.

"But despite its importance, some of the most vulnerable people in Weston haven’t been able to access it. Many have found that they cannot get through on the application phone line and, when they do, an automated voice often tells them that no-one is available and then their call is dropped.

"I’m delighted the Government have agreed to fix this. They've promised to hire more people to process the calls, so anyone calling the application line is much more likely to speak to a real person and can get a decision on the loan there and then.

"Combined with the steps that the regional Job Centre Plus are taking, I’m hopeful that no-one in Weston will have problems in applying for the loan in future. Of course not all the steps have been implemented yet, so I will be watching the situation very carefully until they are."