Try to secure investment in the area via the securing extra funding for area’s of high unemployment. By introducing enterprise zones to encourage companies to locate to areas where the greatest need for jobs are. This will help protect communities and share the wealth of the country more fairly.
Discourage companies from directly recruiting a workforce from outside the UK. The practice of opening recruitment offices in eastern European countries to bring a workforce to the UK undermines the ability of the local workforce from being able to compete in the work market.
Introduce tax implications against companies from buying properties for the use of multiple occupations by low paid staff members. (this will help level the playing field between local and non local labour)
The reintroduction of a youth opportunities scheme (YTS scheme) or a more modern alternative. Giving the youth of the area a chance to gain experience and hands on training. That leads to full time work or full indentured apprenticeships. But with controls in place to ensure training is taking place, Vocational qualification levels are being met and they are not just being used as cheap labour. Key areas of industry will be targeted based on the lack of local trained workforce. The construction industry is facing a huge lack of trained labour in the coming years due to years of lack in training.
Zero hours contracts to be abolished a min wage per week to be introduced to run alongside the living wage per hour. No one should be in the situation where working is less appealing than staying on benefits.
A new system should be introduced whereby a Job Seekers claim can be “suspended” to allow a claimant to take short term work and be able to immediately qualify to recommence their benefit as soon as work ceases. (i have experienced the problem of having to turn down a few days work due to having to reclaim once i have finished again)
Scrapping of parts of the Agency working regulations to reflect the transient nature of certain industries. For example the regulations regarding the 13 week rules do not lend themselves to the construction industry. In their current state the rules do not lead to encouraging companies to take on agency staff full time but instead to just change staff after 11 weeks.
The introduction of a tax tariff on companies who make prolonged use of agency labour. Based on numbers of staff instead of individually named staff. This will stop companies circumventing the Agency working regulations by rotating their staff. If a company needs to employ agency staff long term than fully employment should be offered. The current system just creates a revolving door mentality with employers.
The immediate end to workfare scheme. If an employer wish’s to help provide vital experience for new school leavers / long term unempolyed it should be done on a living wage scheme with incentives such as tax breaks for the companies or a reduction in business rates.
Benefits and welfare
An immediate end to the ATOS style of assessments. Decisions of the ability to work should be carried out by the claimants GP. In the same way as a person is “signed off” as sick for work under the statutory sick pay rules. If the matter needs to be looked into further it should be done by a medical professional suitably qualified in the relevant field of medicine.
More help and assistance for full time carers. With tailor made plans to help with the care of the disabled. Plans fully involving the families / carers of the claimant. As these are the people who know the needs of the claimant better than any other.
Immediate scrapping to the bedroom tax. Tenants should be given some form of encouragement to move to a more suitable accommodation. To free up larger properties but not forced to move if they chose not to.
Job centres should run a two tier system of help. One tier for short term qualified claimants who should be given minimal help and supervision enabling them to find future employment in their own fields. Without hindrance of too much red tape and interference. This would free up resources for the second tier of claimant who would be long term and less qualified claimants who require more help in finding work or in changing their career choice.
Immigration & Asylum Seekers
Restrictions on the type of benefits non UK nationals are able to claim upon entry to the country.
A qualifying period of 2 years full time employment before non UK nationals are entitled to the full range of UK benefits.
Family members not residing in the UK will not be taken into account when calculation tax liability or benefits of non UK nationals.
CRB type checks to be carried out on all non UK nationals. Anyone failing the test will be removed from the country.
“Chip and pin” cards to be issued to asylum seekers to replace food vouchers (Preventing the sale of vouchers). These will only be able to be used for food and clothing at major supermarkets and discount store
Energy
Energy companies brought back under public ownership or at the very least tighter controls on profits by linking the domestic charges to wholesale costs.
More investment in green technology but with the emphasis on uk companies or a proportionate system based on uk employees.
Increase in the coal levy on opencast sites. Thus protecting the environment but enabling the small coal mines to continue production.
Banning of Fracking
reduction on dependency on fossil fuels. Heading towards carbon neutral electricity generation as soon as technically possible.
Reduction in subsidies for carbon fuel based electrical generation. On a sliding scale based emission levels.
NHS
Making sure the NHS stays free at point of use. No charges for GP’s or any other service.
Enquiry to try to ensure better access to NHS dentists.
Reduction in outsourcing of services.
Reduction in the use of Agency labour at all levels. Including the banning of Zero Hour contracts.
The reduction in managerial roles in hospitals and more powers to be given to clinical staff.
The return of ward Matrons over ward managers.
Introduction of local care to isolated communities. Possibly with the use of mobile health centres. Which could be used for patient screening and services such as blood / diabetic testing ect. As well as minor ailments like coughs and flu treatment. These could be run by a district nurse. Hence freeing up appointment times at the main surgery.
Overhauling of procedures for Accident & Emergency department. So as to reduce the amount of time ambulances are tied up with patients on board outside hospitals. This could include a separate triage area. Referring low priority patients to normal admissions.
Give the Head of A&E powers so they can call on further resources from inside the hospital once levels in A & E have reach trigger levels. Including calling in of available “on call” staff.
Stop the centralisation of services in Valley hospitals. The health boards don’t seem to understand the difficulties faced by residents in getting to non local hospitals. Centralisation may work in major cities and the M4 Corridor but they don’t work in the valleys due to transport issues.
Housing
Introduction of rent controls on private landlords. Stopping the spiralling rent charges faced in some areas
Tightened regulations on rented accommodation to ensure that all properties are fit for purpose. Including the limiting of the number of persons allowed to live in a property.
Changes to the rules allowing councils to borrow money for house building. This will boost jobs in the construction industry as well as giving social landlords a new funding stream from rents.
Changes to the way housing in allocated with more emphasis placed on keeping local families together and as such building of communities.
Crime & Policing
More accountability to the local residents by the police force.
Greater emphasis by police force placed on locally decided priorities. If the local residents feel more resources should be used to combat certain types of crime or anti social behaviour. This should be carried out by the local force.
Reintroduction of Anti Social Behaviour Order’s but with more stringent penalties.
Changes to sentencing rules whereby greater weight is placed on the victims wishes when considering the length of a sentence and more importantly parole conditions.
The introduction of a specific hate crime on serving military personnel. Military personnel place themselves in danger when serving their country and should be protected by law when they are at home.
Education
Introduce a reduction in student loans for students taken up roles in the public sector of a minimum of 5 years.
Full cancelation of student loans for teachers / medical students following 5 years in the public sector.
Re introduction of the YTS / YOP or similar scheme to give school leavers a hands on training leading to full aprentiships after he 1st year.
Further investment in local primary school and the move away from “super schools”
Ring fenced funding for school transport.
Local Issues
Help local groups raise awareness of local issues. This can be done via press statements to both local and national media. It matters not that an issue is not within an MP’s remit or jurisdiction. What matters is getting the voice of the local people heard at all levels
Raise local issues at a national level. Helping to ensure local communities are heard at all levels of government
Actively campaign with local groups to lift the profile of a campaign by bringing in media attention.
Assist with trying to secure funding and funding streams for local volunteer groups. Letters of support or other means may provide extra leverage when trying secure funding.
Support the local communities in any way possible to further the prosperity, education and general wellbeing of the community in a balanced manner.
listen to all members of the community and do my best to ensure their voice is heard or support them in any way possible with issues they bring to my attention. Transport Subsidies to low paid workers on public transport fares over a set amount. Thus giving incentive to take jobs outside of the local area when local job are not available.
A study into ways of improving east west transport links.
Increase in frequency of public transport to isolated communities at peak times. one bus an hour is not sufficient.
A detailed study into Bus and train timetables to unsure a full integration of the public transport network.
Extra bus services or changes to routes to enable single bus journeys to Prince Charles hospital from Rhymney, Darren valleys and other areas that are not currently served by a direct link.
Subsidised or free public transport to and from hospital and doctors appointments for the long term sick.
Extra winter road funding available to authorities with a higher than average snowfall level. This will ease the cost of gritting roads from some local authorities