From: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.

com
Subject: News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #415
Date: 13 October 2014 10:01
To: news@greghands.com



In this edition:



Greg Hands M.P.s Diary

Website of the Week:
Rays Playhouse

Photo news:
Fulham Junior Chess Club

Labours figures turn
against Ed Miliband and his
damaging Homes Tax

Greg Hands meets former
Jamaican Prime Minister to
discuss UK Governments
reductions in Air Passenger
Duty

West Brompton Tube set to
go step free thanks to Boris
Johnson and the
Conservatives

Find Out More About Home
Swaps

Photo news:
Clacton by-election

Book Tickets for Fireworks
this year in Hammersmith &
Fulham parks

Fungi Foray in Holland Park

Cllr Andrew Brown:
Labours NHS claims start
to unravel

Greg Hands MP's letter to
constituents on the Super
Sewer

How to contact
Greg Hands MP




Issue 415 - Monday 13th October 2014


Since the last edition, Greg:
Was guest quiz master at the Rose pub, Fulham, for a
fundraising evening for Fulhams excellent Rays Playhouse,
which raised more than 7,000. For more, see website of the
week below.
Attended Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham,
including David Camerons speech as Leader of the Party.
Met former Jamaican Prime Minister and Leader of the
Jamaican Labour Party, Hon. Andrew Holderness, to help
publicise the UK Governments recent big cuts in Air
Passenger Duty to destinations in the Caribbean. For more,
see below.
Attended a meeting of the campaign team for Charlie
Dewhirst. Charlie is the Conservatives candidate to be the
next MP for Hammersmith.
Was guest speaker at the Stoke-on-Trent Conservatives.
Hosted a dinner for visiting MPs from the German CDU and
CSU at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.
Campaigned for Conservative candidate Giles Watling in the
Clacton by-election.
Gave the Conservative Partys reaction to the Clacton and
Heywood by-elections on a BBC by election special.
Carried out his duties in a busy week as the Conservative
Party and Governments Deputy Chief Whip.
Held a regular, weekly, advice surgery for local Chelsea and
Fulham residents, at Fulham Library, on Fulham Road, close to
Parsons Green tube. Gregs surgeries are generally weekly, on
Monday mornings, at either Fulham Library, or Peter Jones,
Sloane Square, Chelsea. To make an appointment, email
mail@greghands.com or telephone 020 7219 5448.


Website of the Week:
www.raysplayhouse.org

The website of Rays Playhouse, the Fulham based play facility
for toddlers and small children, including new play equipment.
Greg was quiz master this week for a fundraising evening for the
Playhouse, which raised more than 7,000. The event was also
sponsored by Aspire estate agents, Woodford solicitors and
other local businesses.


Photo news:
Fulham Junior Chess Club


Greg Hands MP with young competitors at the Fulham Junior
Chess Club last month, which is hosted by the Brunswick Club,
where Greg is a trustee.


Labours figures turn against Ed Miliband
and his damaging Homes Tax

Following the Labour Party Conference, several senior figures in the
Labour Party have spoken out to voice their fears over Labours
unworkable and damaging Homes Tax.

It was confirmed by both Ed Miliband and Ed Balls at this years
Labour Conference, that if they were elected following the General
Election, either by themselves or as a part of a coalition with the
Liberal Democrats, then they would introduce a new annual tax on
properties worth over 2million, and probably less.

Although dubbed by Labour as a Mansion Tax, in London where
house prices are well above the national average, the tax would affect
ordinary family homes and even flats. Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea
and Fulham, has consistently warned that the new levy is in reality a
Homes Tax, and would not just hit the super-rich, but many people,
including pensioners, who had lived in their homes for decades. If
implemented, it would unfairly impact on capital-rich but income-poor
homes, particularly people who bought their homes years ago at lower
values who would see themselves dragged into the 2m bracket. This
could especially include retired people.

Now, in the weeks following the party conferences, several senior
Labour figures have raised similar concerns about the policys
fairness, workability, and popularity:

Labour MP Karen Buck, Miliband's parliamentary private
secretary, said she was "very, very anxious" about it, telling the
Daily Telegraph that she would only support the levy if
safeguards for vulnerable people are included in the plans.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Margaret Hodge MP, chairman of
the Commons public accounts committee said the policy was
too crude to work properly.
And former Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich
and West Norwood, said: I am concerned about my typically
older families who are asset rich and income poor. They bought
houses 40 years ago, which have appreciated enormously in
value and they certainly cant afford a mansion tax.
Lord Bragg, the Labour peer and broadcaster, told the Sun that
Miliband's tax was "grotesquely unfair" and "may have wiped
out Hampstead as a Labour seat".
Additionally, Labour's biggest individual donor John Mills, who
gave the party 1.65 million last year, said implementing the
plans would produce "all sorts of problems" and spoke up for
an alternative measure. Mr Mills, chairman and founder of
consumer goods giant JML, told the Telegraph correctly valuing
houses would be "really tricky" and warned home owners with
mortgages could be forced into "negative equity".

Commenting on the policy and the criticisms, Greg said: I have long
warned about the unfairness this new tax would bring. But dont take
my word for it, even Ed Milibands biggest supporters from inside his
own party are against it. The revelations from within Labours own
ranks, highlight just how damaging and unpopular this tax would be.

There is a real danger that if Labour were to get in at the next general
election, they would inflict this on homeowners in my constituency and
across the country. In contrast, this Government is keeping council tax
down for hardworking people, with bills cut by 11 per cent in real terms
since 2010.


Greg Hands meets former Jamaican Prime
Minister to discuss UK Governments
reductions in Air Passenger Duty


Greg Hands MP meeting former Jamaican Prime Minister Hon.
Andrew Holness to discuss the UK Government's reductions in
Air Passenger Duty on flights to the Caribbean.

Chelsea and Fulham MP, Greg Hands, has met former Jamaican
Prime Minister and current Leader of the Jamaican Labour Party,
Andrew Holness, to discuss the Conservative led Governments cuts
to the Caribbean, Indian and Australasian bands of Air Passenger
Duty (APD).

At the last Budget statement, in March this year, major reforms and
reductions to APD were announced by the Chancellor. The
Government will reform APD by abolishing Bands C and D from 1
April 2015. This will eliminate the two highest rates of APD charged on
flights to countries over 4,000 miles from Britain. From next year, all
long haul flights will carry the same lower Band B tax rate that
passengers currently pay to fly to the United States. The changes,
which will benefit all destinations presently in Band C, which currently
includes Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

The reforms are particularly welcome amongst Chelsea & Fulhams
many diaspora communities, particularly those of Caribbean, Indian,
Australasian and South African origin.

Since 2009, Greg Hands has campaigned for reform of the APD
system, and particularly to amend the banding structure of the tax.
The current system, introduced by the last Labour Government,
caused unfair anomalies in the rate, for instance where flights to the
Caribbean were taxed more than those to California - even though
California is further away - as it was calculated on distance between
capital cities and the UK. Greg even tabled an amendment to Labours
2009 Budget which would have abolished APD, and spoke at length in
the House of Commons against the higher bands.

At the Conservative Party Conference, held last week in Birmingham,
Greg met with the former Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness,
to discuss the positive impact the new policy will have on the
Caribbean and also on local residents in Chelsea & Fulham of
Caribbean origin.

Chelsea and Fulham is home to large numbers of residents with links
to countries across the world, who will benefit from the new reduced
rate when travelling to visit family or for business. This includes over
3,400 constituents from the Caribbean, 1,500 of Indian origin, and
1,500 of Chinese origin, as well as over 4,000 people whose origins
are from other Asian countries. All these long-haul destinations will
benefit from the scrapping of the two highest APD bands.

Commenting on the meeting and the new ADP policy, set to come in
next year, Greg Hands said: It was an absolute pleasure to meet
Andrew Holness, who like me, has been campaigning for several
years for a fairer tax system on flights. I am delighted that the new
regime will be coming in next year, and it is something I have been
pushing towards for five years.

I have many residents who regularly travel to the Caribbean to visit
family, so this will make this journeys more affordable for them.
Additionally it will benefit the Caribbean economy by removing an
unfair barrier to exports and particular tourism which is an essential
industry. This measure also contributes to the UK's growth
opportunities by lowering the cost of travelling to many emerging
market destinations such as China, India and Brazil. Some of the
biggest beneficiaries however will be regular travellers to family
outside of Europe of which includes many thousands of my
constituents.

Both Mr Holness and me are looking forward to the introduction of
this policy next year.

Andrew Holness was Prime Minister of Jamaica from 2011 to 2012,
and is currently the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and Leader of
the Opposition.


West Brompton Tube set to go step free
thanks to Boris Johnson and the
Conservatives

Local stations West Brompton and White City are among stations set
to go step-free under plans announced by Mayor Boris Johnson and
London Underground.

They have confirmed plans for a 75million fund to speed up the rate
at which the network is made accessible for disabled Londoners and
visitors to the capital.

The fund has been put aside to enable the installation of new lifts at
around a dozen more stations over the next ten years. The new
stations are in addition to the 28 LU and London Rail stations which
Transport for London had previously committed to making step-free by
2024, and the 30 Crossrail stations in London that will all be step-free.

The funding, which was announced at a special TfL Accessibility
Show at Excel London, will be used to match contributions from local
councils and property developers for improvements to step-free
access at a number of priority locations, which they say will unlock
large numbers of new accessible journeys.

The number of rail and underground platforms that are step-free from
street to platform has risen from 57 in 1998 to 195 in 2014. The new
funding, alongside the accessible Crossrail stations, will take
accessibility to the next level.

Some of the stations that could be made step-free with third party
contributions from developers and the LU fund include Mill Hill East,
Newbury Park, Osterley, West Brompton and White City. Others sites
will be confirmed as soon as commercial negotiations allow.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "The Tube was built at a
time when accessibility was not top of the priority list and that's
something we've long been battling to rectify. Great progress has
been made in making an ever-growing number of stations step free,
and while the picture is far from perfect, this injection of cash is
another step in the right direction.

"As we have also made clear in our pledge to make Crossrail step-
free, this is all part of our wider efforts to ensure that London has a
transport network that is open and accessible for all."

Mike Brown MVO, the Managing Director of London Underground
said: "We have made great strides in making our network more
accessible - installing new lifts, rebuilding stations, and introducing
boarding ramps to make life easier for our customers. But we
recognise that there is still a considerable way to go. Through the
creation of this 75 million fund we are using innovative ways to find
the means of going further faster.

"We are confident that the cooperation we're already seeing from third
parties will continue to grow, so that together we can build a transport
network more accessible for London residents and visitors alike.

"Importantly, this is just the latest in a whole series of improvements
we're making, including improvements to frontline staff training that
will mean all station staff receive accessibility training by a person with
a disability."


Find Out More About Home Swaps

Residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham who live in housing
association or council homes and want to swap their property with
another tenant can find out more about how to make this happen at a
special Housing Advice Day on Wednesday 29th October.

For tenants who want a larger or smaller property or may wish to
move to another area the mutual exchange scheme can provide a
solution. Tenants who have a social tenancy in their name and who do
not have any rent arrears or a history of antisocial behaviour are
eligible for mutual exchange.

Tenants can come to the Housing Advice Day for help and guidance
and can register for mutual exchange for free. There will be a
presentation about mutual exchange, the opportunity to meet other
residents, discussions about Housing Benefit and employment, plus
the chance to ask questions and to speak to someone personally
about your situation.

The event runs from 1pm to 6pm and there is no need to book, just
come along to Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX

Greg Hands MP said: "Home swaps are a good way for social housing
tenants to change location, or to increase or decrease the size of their
flat, according to their needs. I have helped tenants do things like
move to Bournemouth to be near, or to help those who have changed
job or need to be nearer their families. I recommend having a look."

For further information on the mutual exchange scheme go to
www.rbkc.gov.uk/mutualexchange.


Photo news:
Clacton by-election


Greg Hands MP campaigning in the Clacton by election last
week.


Book Tickets for Fireworks this year in
Hammersmith & Fulham parks

Fireworks displays to mark Bonfire Night in Hammersmith & Fulham
this year will be out of this world.

More than 20,000 people are expected to attend Hammersmith &
Fulham Councils Blast from Outer Space themed shows at Bishops
Park and Ravenscourt Park, on Friday November 7 and Saturday
November 8 respectively.

The gates open at 6pm at both events and the children's fireworks will
take place at 7.15pm. The celebrations will culminate with a fantastic
firework display choreographed to music at 8pm (approximately).
There will also be a funfair and food stalls at the events.

Greg Hands MP said "These are two excellent fireworks displays, and
local residents can come along with their families and enjoy them in a
safe environment."

You can buy your tickets from October 1, 2014. Book in advance and
get 25% off, meaning tickets are 6 each. Advance booking closes at
5.30pm on November 6 for Bishops Park and at 5.30pm on November
7 for Ravenscourt Park. Tickets are also available on the day at the
gate for 8. Entry for children under five-years-old is free.

Contact the Lyric Theatre box office at www.lyric.co.uk or call 020
8741 6850.

Please remember to arrive at the parks early, as gates will close at
7.45pm. There will also be no admittance to any vendors, and you are
not allowed to bring your own fireworks, sparklers, alcohol or dogs to
the event.


Fungi Foray in Holland Park

Join the Natural History Museums Mark Spencer on Saturday 25
October to find the fungi on display at this time of year in Holland
Parks wildlife areas. You will learn how to identify common species
and hopefully discover some great specimens.

The free event is sponsored by the Friends of Holland Park but
booking is required, email ecology@rbkc.gov.uk to reserve your
place. Meet at the Holland Park Ecology Centre for 2pm.


Cllr Andrew Brown: Labours NHS claims
start to unravel

This weeks Health Scrutiny meeting was as heated as expected,
especially on changes to local A&Es and Imperials plans for the
future of its sites, in particular Charing Cross. The Committee also
discussed food banks and the Councils proposed 6.5 million cuts
from the Adult Social Care budget.

Three claims that Labour made before the local elections were refuted
by local NHS experts and doctors. They confirmed that Charing Cross
hospital will continue to have an A&E, the specification of which will be
finalised once Sir Bruce Keoghs report on future of emergency
medicine is published.

They also confirmed that Charing Cross hospital will not be a GP led
clinic, but will be staffed by both primary and secondary care clinicians
with patients treated by the clinicians most suitable to their needs.

Finally they confirmed that Charing Cross hospital will have a 150
million new building that once built, and only then, will replace some of
the existing buildings on the site. This 150 million is part of a wider
1.1 billion capital investment in healthcare across North West
London.

With these important clarifications by the local NHS came increasingly
angry and aggressive questioning by Labour Councillors, especially
Council Leader, Stephen Cowan. His questioning consisted of
repetitively asking questions, manipulating peoples words and cutting
off respondents when he didnt like the answers. He appeared to have
no genuine interest in scrutinising local doctors about how these
changes would be delivered to ensure the greatest benefit to local
residents and other NHS users. His behaviour was inappropriate
towards NHS public servants, a feeling shared by shocked local NHS
doctors.

Andrew Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, missed the majority
of the meeting. His only contribution was to ask questions that had
already been answered. Like Cllr. Cowan he seemed more interested
in asking the questions than actually listening to the answers. It was
hard to avoid the feeling that both were more interested in scoring
cheap political points than actually partaking in a sincere scrutiny
process.

The new Labour administration is approaching 150 days in office and
had many more in opposition to develop alternative plans for local
healthcare services. It has had time to find clinicians and experts to
support their views, but it has failed to do so.

What is even more concerning, is that the new Labour
administrations, especially the Council Leaders, attitude towards
local NHS doctors and experts is putting at risk the ability of the
Council to work with the NHS to improve integration of health and
social care, coordinate public health and put in place the strategies
desperately needed to prevent local people developing serious long
term health conditions that are putting huge demand on our social
care services.

If the new Council administration doesnt find a way to work with the
local NHS, instead of finding ways of closing the 6.5 million gap in
adult social care funding, that gap will get much wider as people suffer
from worst healthcare outcomes and require more NHS care and
more local authority social care.

I understand why Andrew Slaughter wishes to keep kicking the
political football of local NHS reforms, but Stephen Cowan needs to
realise that hes not fighting the local elections any more. Hes in
administration now and needs to put local people first and find ways of
working productively with the NHS.


Greg Hands MP's letter to constituents on
the Super Sewer

Thank you for contacting me about the Thames Tideway Tunnel or
Super Sewer.

Like you, I believe that the independent Planning Inspectorate has
made the wrong decision, in determining that the project will go ahead
at Carnwath Road in Fulham, and not Barn Elms or any other more
suitable site. Along with hundreds of local residents, I made the point
to the Planning Inspectorate in person that Carnwath Road lies in the
very heart of hundreds of homes, as well as businesses and schools,
in a densely residential part of London. It is extremely rare for the
Government to overturn recommendations of the Planning
Inspectorate, and there was no surprise in this case. That, after all, is
why the Planning Inspectorate is there, so that experts can study a
problem independent of any Government interference. On this
occasion, I think their decision is the wrong one, but it is not going to
be overturned, unless it can be shown that they followed a flawed
process.

I believe I have made my position on the Super Sewer extremely
clear, both to local residents as well as to Thames Water and the
Planning Inspectorate. Together with the previous Conservative
Council in Hammersmith and Fulham, I have long opposed the project
coming to Carnwath Road. I have fought alongside hundreds of
residents to prevent the Tunnel from being dug from Fulham. Here is a
chronology of what I have done on the campaign:

1. I called Open Meetings, together with the Conservative
Councillors, to rally opposition to the scheme in April 2011
and October 2011, both held at Hurlingham & Chelsea
School.
2. I held meetings with three Government Ministers to press
our case, including the Water Minister in September
2011, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in September
2011 and the Secretary of State for the Environment in
November 2012, together with Nick Botterill, then the
Leader of the Council.
3. I leafleted the whole of Fulham in early 2012 to alert
people well beyond Carnwath Road to the threat posed
by the Super Sewer.
4. I made extensive submissions to the various consultations
which were undertaken by Thames Water and others,
including the Phase 2 Thames Tunnel Consultation
(February 2012) and the Defra consultation Consultation
on the Secretary of State specifying the Thames Tideway
Tunnel Project as a Specified Infrastructure Project and
Issuing a Preparatory Work Notice) in December 2013.
All of these submissions are available to see on my
website.
5. I gave lengthy oral evidence to the Planning Inquiry led by
the Planning Inspectorate in January 2014, at Hurlingham
& Chelsea School.

The Planning Inspectorates decision is a very serious reverse in our
campaign to prevent the Super Sewer coming to Fulham. I think we
are all going to have to come to terms with the fact that the Super
Sewer is now very likely to come to Carnwath Road, and we should
now be doing whatever we can to reduce its impact on all of us, as
residents, businesses and schools. I believe I can best serve my
constituents by applying pressure on Thames Tideway Tunnel to
ensure residents are listened to, and the interests of South Fulham
are protected. I am therefore keen that residents receive the
maximum changes, assurances and compensation from Thames
Water, and that the detrimental impacts of the construction of this
sewer are minimised as far as possible.

Since the decision, I have met with the Chief Executive of Thames
Tideway Tunnel Ltd (TTT Ltd), Andy Mitchell, and Thames Waters
Head of Thames Tideway Tunnel, Phil Stride, to ask detailed
questions about the phases of construction, dates and timescales of
operations, the likely environmental impact, and possible transport
disruption. They reported that many of these details are still under
consideration, as the tendering for the subcontractors will not be
completed until next year. I impressed upon them the need to work
with residents and local organisations, to listen carefully to concerns
and to keep local people thoroughly updated on a regular basis.

At my suggestion, TTT Ltd have agreed to set up liaison groups of
local residents, schools and businesses, and Andy Mitchell has
assured me that they are all ears when it comes to talking with
residents. I will chair an Open Meeting in South Fulham in the coming
weeks, where residents will have the opportunity to put their questions
directly to Thames Water and TTT Ltd. I will let you know once the
details of this meeting have been confirmed.

While this decision is certainly a blow for Fulham, the precise details
of the plan are still being worked out, and I can promise that I will keep
up the pressure on Thames Water and TTT Ltd. I shall continue to
liaise with schools, businesses and local residents to make sure their
voices are heard, and I will fight to make sure we get the best possible
deal for Fulham, given the circumstances.

More details about my position and campaigning history on the Super
Sewer can be found on my website, www.greghands.com, along
with links to keep you updated on my future activity on the issue.


5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448
By email: mail@greghands.com
By post: Greg Hands M.P.
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
In person: Click here for details of how
to book an appointment at
Greg Hands M.P.s weekly
surgery

www.greghands.com



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Greg Hands M.P. a strong voice for Chelsea & Fulham

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