MP and MSP Pledge A Day’s Salary to Farepak Fund

Sandra Osborne MP and Cathy Jamieson MSP have pledged their personal support to the victims of the collapse of Farepak, by pledging a day’s salary each to the Farepak Response Fund.  They are supporting Gordon Brown’s call for local politicians to make a personal contribution to the families let down by Farepak. They have also contacted local businesses to ask for their support.

Sandra Osborne said:
‘Since the collapse of Farepak three weeks ago I have been campaigning for help for the families who have lost significant savings and had their Christmas ruined.  I welcome the announcement during a debate I attended in the House of Commons of the Farepak Response Fund. This is a dedicated voucher fund for Farepak customers which is being set up by the respected voluntary sector organisation, Family Fund. Full details of the fund will be available shortly and it is important to stress that they should only be contacted with donations.  The vouchers will be distributed by the existing agents.

I have been advising all my constituents who have paid money to Farepak either directly or through an agent to contact the Administrator to register a claim as soon as possible.

I am also calling on Halifax Bank of Scotland to recompense the Farepak Customers. They were calling in monies for the company’s overdraft and those monies were coming from my constituent’s savings. While it may not be illegal it is, at the very least, morally unacceptable which is why we need better regulation. In the meantime, HBOS can well afford, with their massive profits, to step in. The £2 million they have pledged to the fund so far, while welcome, is nothing like enough.’

Cathy Jamieson added:
“The collapse of Farepak has been a disaster for many local families who’ve been saving all year for Christmas.  Some of the stories I’ve heard from constituents are really upsetting so it’s vital that we as politicians do all we can to help the local families involved.

Anyone affected by the Farepak collapse should contact either myself, Sandra Osborne MP, Brian Donohoe MP or Des Browne MP so that we can keep them up to date with the work that’s being done to try and resolve the situation and the help that is on offer.

There have already been some significant donations made to the Farepak Response Fund and I will be working closely with my Westminster colleagues to support them in their efforts to persuade other businesses to show some Christmas spirit and help the hard-working families who’ve been hard hit by the Farepak collapse.”