Government must encourage, not threaten, jobless people

08 Dec 2008

Speaking in advance of the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill this week, John Mason has warned over demonising and punishing the unemployed.

Mr Mason also said that debate over welfare reform had to be separated from high profile cases such that of the Karen Matthews, after Conservative leader David Cameron suggested the case was an example of “our broken society”.

Mr Mason said:

”Reforms must be about helping and encouraging people back into work, not demonising and punishing the unemployed.

“I accept that people should not expect something for nothing, but the approach should be about enabling people to get into work, rather than threatening them with a return to the workhouse.

”In particular, the proposals to force lone parents, with children as young as one, out the door to work is frankly draconian. It is also unfortunate that some politicians have chosen to suggest that the despicable behaviour of Karen Matthews was somehow typical of child benefit claimants, which it clearly is not, and such cases need to be separated from the welfare reform debate.

”The fact is that a huge amount has changed since the Welfare Reform proposals were first mooted in July, and now any reforms must reflect the changed economic climate.

”With dole queues getting longer every day, the focus should be on stimulating the economy and creating new jobs and opportunities.

”While we will look cautiously and constructively at the wider proposals, half-baked and draconian reforms are not the answer.”

City hit by lack of grit – Mason calls for action in aftermath of cold snap

04 Dec 2008

John Mason, the SNP MP for Glasgow East, has had his Shettleston office inundated with calls and email from Glaswegians concerned by the apparent lack of gritting being carried out on the roads and pavements of their neighbourhoods.

The numbers of complaints on this issue increased dramatically in the aftermath of the wintry weather that hit the city on both Monday and Tuesday night. One Springboig woman reported having to crawl along the pavement and into a taxi in order to keep a dental appointment.

Speaking this morning, the East End Scottish National Party MP said:

“I have received a significant number of telephone calls and email messages from concerned constituents over the last 72 hours, and the common theme has been the treacherous condition of the roads and pavements in their area. Most of the calls that my office has taken have been from Greenfield, Springboig, Barlanark, and Mount Vernon.

“I appreciate that there is a priority plan for the gritting of roads and pavements, and that bus routes, main roads, areas adjacent to fire stations, for example, are accorded special attention.

“I have asked the city council to investigate what extra measures they can take in terms of placing additional ‘grit bins’ in strategic locations or revising and extending the coverage of the priority plan.

“It would save our hospitals money if there was more grit out there and fewer broken bones. Falling on ice is a particular hazard for older people. As people live longer, we need to be ensuring these older people have a better quality of life.”

Welfare measures must reflect changed economic climate

03 Dec 2008

Commenting on the announcement of the Welfare Reform Bill in the Queen’s Speech today (Wednesday) SNP Work and Pension’s spokesman, John Mason MP, has described plans to force parents with young children back to work as draconian.

The Glasgow East MP said:

”Instead of offering hard-pressed families a helping hand Gordon Brown is pushing parents out the door to work.

”With dole queues getting longer every day, the focus should be on stimulating the economy and creating new jobs and opportunities. Half-baked and draconian reforms are not the answer.

”We will look cautiously and constructively at the wider proposals, but the fact is that much has changed since the Welfare Reform proposals were first mooted in July, and any reforms must reflect the changed economic climate.”

Notes:

Since 24th Nov. 2008 lone parents of a child aged 12, or over, making a new claim were required to claim Jobseekers Allowance rather than Income Support, as a part of a plan to move most Lone Parents onto JSA.

From 26th October 2009 lone parents with a youngest child of 10 were required to claim Jobseekers Allowance.

From 25th October 2010 lone parents with a youngest child of 7 were required to claim Jobseekers Allowance.

This requires Lone Parents to actively look for work; and they will be expected to sign on fortnightly and have an Action Plan for seeking employment of at least 16 hours. The longer they are on JSA the more will be required of them to seek paid work.

They will be subject to sanctions; including losing up to 40% of their adult benefit.

DWP source:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/lone-parent-changes.asp

Jobcentreplus source:
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/parents_/Lone_Parents/Changes_to_Income_Support_for_lone_parents/index.html

East End’s MP welcomes extra police

03 Dec 2008

The SNP MP for the East End, John Mason, has welcomed the latest figures on police officer numbers, which show that the Strathclyde force has enjoyed a surge in numbers since the first three months of 2008.

The new official statistics show that the number of officers in the Strathclyde Police area has gone up from 7,619 in the quarter ending in March to 7,824 for the three months to September – an increase of 205 officers.

Mr Mason, who represents all of the communities between Parkhead and Garrowhill and from Carmyle to Cranhill, said:

“People in all of the communities that I represent will be delighted to hear that Strathclyde Police now has 205 more policemen and women on the streets than it did in March. After all, a visible police presence is important in terms of reducing crime and providing reassurance to the public.

“I’m sure that those who have newly entered the police service will go on to serve their communities with skill and dedication. I am positive about the prospects of them being joined by even more new colleagues during the years ahead.”