The Liberal Democrats already have a veto over coalition policies, Labour MP Jim Hood said today.

He was responding to remarks from Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes who said his Party’s MPs should be able to say to the conservatives ‘No, we can’t go down this road.’

Mr. Hood told Gallery News:   “Nick Clegg has such a veto now.  He just has no intention of saying NO to Cameron or Osborne.  Simon Hughes keeps mouthing about the coalition partnership with the Tories but always votes for it.  In January when VAT goes up to 20%, the Lib/Dems will be known as the 20 percenters.  The 20% VAT rate will be higher that the Lib/Dems poll ratings.”

The referencedum on AV will become a vote on Nick Clegg, Labour MP Jim Hood said today.

Mr. Hood told Gallery News, “being criticised by Simon Hughes for – quote ‘naked opportunism’ is a bit rich, as is ‘shameless self-interest’.  This from a Party whose shameless self-interest is in their DNA.  They should be called the SS-I Party.

“Nick Cleg is Cameron’s fig leaf and Simon Hughes is Clegg’s.  May 20111 will be a referendum on Nick Clegg (NC) not on AV.  It will be the NC referendum.  I would not vote for anything that has Nick Clegg or his SS-I Party’s name to it, with a gun at my back.”

“Bring it on”.

ends

Jim Hood, MP for Lanark & Hamilton East, has joined the “Terminate the Rate Campaign” in support of Ofcom’s proposals to cut the cost of Mobile Termination Rates.

Mr. Hood said:

“I have recently received many letters from people in Lanark & Hamilton East who have responded to the Ofcom consultation on the wholesale mobile voice call termination market review where Ofcom is already proposing that the rates should be reduced from 4.3p to 0.5 p.

Nobody should have to worry about whether they can afford to communicate with friends and relatives.   Last year we were charged millions of pounds in unfair fees for calling mobile phones from a landline.  That’s why I have signed up to the campaign.   The Ofcom campaign must continue to get everyone’s support if all mobile phone companies are to make realistic charges. “

LANARKSHIRE LABOUR BANK ON OWEN

Local Labour politicians have added their support to a national campaign to commemorate New Lanark founder Robert Owen on Scottish banknotes.

Clydesdale MSP Karen Gillon and Lanark and Hamilton East MP Jim Hood, whose constituencies both include the World Heritage Site of New Lanark, have added their support to the Bank on Owen petition.

The petition calls on the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank to recognise the achievements of Robert Owen by commemorating him on bank notes.

Clydesdale MSP Karen Gillon said:

“The contributions which Robert Owen made to life in Scotland should not be underestimated.  This is a man who introduced childcare to this country, championed the value of education and introduced favourable working conditions that were virtually unheard of at the time.

“All of these achievements not only enriched the quality of life for those under Owen’s care but also resulted in a thriving and commercially successful business model.

“Given the current woes facing our economy we would do well to learn from Owen’s cooperative principles and I think that it would be a fitting tribute to his work if he were to be commemorated on banknotes.

Adding his support to the campaign, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Jim Hood said:

“People across Lanarkshire are rightly proud of the legacy which Robert Owen’s work has created and the World Heritage Site at New Lanark remains a major draw for locals and tourists alike.

“I believe that Robert Owen deserves recognition for his contribution to Scottish society and being placed alongside the other notable Scots which currently grace our banknotes would be a good start.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

The petition can be accessed online from:

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/bank-on-owen.html 

A Facebook group has also been set up and is available from:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=ss&gid=372167091433

The Bank on Owen petition aims to highlight the achievements of Robert Owen by campaigning to have him commemorated on Scottish banknotes in time for the International Year of the Co-operative in 2012.

Robert Owen is respected across the globe for embodying the principle of co-operation, and for putting people before profit.

He should also be recognised for his contribution to the development of the New Lanark community, a pioneering model of good working relations which remains an enduring example to society.

For further information about Robert Owen, visit http://www.robert-owen.com

Stunning Mathletics Success – Hamilton College Praised by MP

Mr. Jim Hood, MP for Lanark and Hamilton East, was treated to a Mathletics demonstration by some of the P7 pupils at Hamilton College on Friday 26 March.  Mr. Hood had been invited to the College by Scotland’s Mathletics Ambassador, P7 student Olivia Greener.

Speaking from his constituency office Mr. Hood said:

“ What a fantastic achievement for the college where its students secured the top three places in Scotland – with P7 student, Sharan Maiya, coming fourth in the world out of over a million students from over 56,000 schools.

I was delighted when I received Olivia’s invitation.  My visit to the college allowed me to see what Mathletics is all about – what a fascinating experience to share “maths space” with all those different countries.

A well deserved congratulations to all the students and to the college for such an incredible achievement.  Well done indeed!”

Ends

Jim Hood MP Pledges Support for NSPCC Campaign to Protect Children

 Jim Hood MP for Lanark & Hamilton East has pledged to support the NSPCC’s  “I stand for children” campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Parliament.

 Jim Hood said:

 “My survey on ‘Protecting Children from Sex Offenders’ in 2007 revealed that 99% of people in the constituency who took part in the survey thought that tougher measures were needed to monitor high risk sex offenders.  The volume of the responses I received then is a reflection on the strength of feeling people have on this important issue.   Protection of children is a priority issue for me and the NSPCC campaign ‘I Stand for Children’ gets my full support in making the internet safer for children and for the continued funding of helpline services for children and for adults concerned about the safety or welfare of a child.”

Ends

MP  Defends Local Business

 Jim Hood, MP for Lanark & Hamilton East, has been successful in his bid for an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons Westminster Hall.  The Adjournment Debate entitled “The Royal Bank of Scotland and Small Businesses” will take place on Wednesday 10 March between 11.00 and 11.30 am.

 Speaking from his constituency office, Mr. Hood said :

“  Many small businesses depend upon the support of the Banks for the operation of their business.   I want to bring attention to the effect unfair bank decisions have upon small businesses, especially when they are providing essential local employment

I have been making representations on behalf of a constituent who was an established and successful business customer of the Royal Bank of Scotland, but the Bank suddenly withdrew from its agreement to provide funding. I am horrified at the resulting consequences to that small business, causing it’s demise!

I am writing to every small business in my constituency to find out if there are any other small successful businesses who have suffered because support from their bank has been lacking. “

ENDS …….

 Statement re Legg ACA Review Report

 In his letter to me dated 12 October, Legg said I had made a duplicate claim for March 2007, dated 31 March 2007 for £1630. I now know that I had mistakenly dated the claim for March 2007 when it should have been for January 2007.

 I immediately accepted responsibility for wrongly dating the claim but there was no duplicate claim or overpayment from ACA. I was therefore disappointed that having provided him with evidence and explanation proving there was no duplicate payment, Legg decided that wrongly dating a claim justified his demand for repayment.     

With regards the MIRAS statements demanded by Legg from mortgage Lenders, my lender Abbey National’s MIRAS statements confirmed interest payments 2004-2008 (4 years) totalled £24,540. For the same period Legg’s letter to me 12 October confirmed that I had claimed back from ACA £24,280. i.e. £24,540 paid out and £24,280 claimed back.

 In his final report Legg asserted that there had been over payments from ACA in years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 (2 years) of £3783 and this figure should be repaid. I invited him to consider years 2006-07 and2007-08 (2years) where I had paid the same amount more in mortgage interest than claimed from ACA. Again Sir Thomas Legg reached his conclusions by defining his remit to look only for over payments from ACA whilst ignoring overall expenditure over the piece of his review 2004-2008 against claims.

End

“We must keep investing to help everyone back into work”, says JIM HOOD MP

 Jim Hood MP for Lanark & Hamilton East today called for continued investment in Lanark & Hamilton East to help people back into work.

Jim Hood MP said:

“We’ve got to keep investing in jobs through the recovery.  I am backing the Future Jobs Fund which will bring more jobs to the area, jobs that David Cameron wants to slash.

“In previous recessions unemployed young people were left on the scrapheap.  We can’t let this happen again.

“That’s why I support Labour’s guarantees – an education or training place for young people up to 18.  And a job or training place for 18-24 year olds out of work for six months.  Both funded by a one off tax on bankers’ bonuses.

“Extra investment has helped keep unemployment in South Lanarkshire at 4.7% – that’s nearly 39% lower than in the 90’s recessions.  We must keep investing to help everyone back into work

Figures released today show that in South Lanarkshire unemployment figures in the 1990’s reached 14,592 people.   Recent figures show that currently 9,081 people are unemployed in South Lanarkshire – as at December, 2009.

 Notes to Editors:

1. Figures are sourced from nomis – https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp

End of the road in sight for car scrappage scheme

 With funding running out Jim Hood MP is encouraging motorists in Lanark & Hamilton East to take part in the car scrappage scheme

Figures released show that more than three quarters of the budget for the Labour Government’s hugely successful scrappage scheme has been used up by individuals and families boosting UK car sales and helping the car industry through the downturn. Funding for less than 82,000 new vehicles orders is left for consumers to take advantage of under the scheme, as it nears its end.

Jim Hood MP said :

“Time is running out for you to get a great deal on a new car by trading in your old one.  If you qualify and if you have been thinking about taking advantage of the scrappage scheme then now is the time. 

“Labour’s car scrappage scheme has kept our car industry going during these tough times and offered great value for motorists. It shows how the Labour Government is investing through difficult times to give real help to people and protect jobs and businesses. 

“We didn’t leave the industry to sink or swim during this difficult global downturn as the Tories did in the 1990s.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. The UK scheme, with £400m from Government and matched funding from manufacturers, is intended to provide immediate support on a short-term basis to boost the car industry and its supply chain during the downturn. It has also removed older vehicles from the road and encouraged consumers to invest in new, safer, and potentially more environmentally friendly models.
2. By 14th January 318,628 new vehicle orders were taken under the scrappage scheme since it was announced in the Budget in April.
3. Under the final stages of the scrappage scheme manufacturers will be apportioned order quotas to aid an orderly close down of the scheme.
4. Changes made to the scheme in September meant:
   1. Vans (up to 3.5 tonnes) registered before February 2002 and;
   2. V registration cars were brought under the eligibility criteria for the scheme.
5. After listening to the needs of the industry, Government provided an additional £100 million of funding for the scrappage scheme. This was approved in October and the Scheme now will cover up to 400,000 transactions.
6. The scrappage scheme figures are updated on a weekly basis, with all available statistics on the BIS website here: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/automotive/scrappage/page51068.html
7. The dealers will do all the paperwork for motorists participating in the scheme and arrange for the old vehicle to be scrapped. The dealer will check that the vehicle being traded in and the new one being bought qualify under the scheme.