The Commons Touch by Gemma Doyle MP

Published 7 Sep 2010 10:00

AS I wrote in my last column, it has been great to be able to spend much more time in the constituency over August whilst Parliament was not sitting.

Come September 6, it is back to business as usual though.

One of the issues coming before Parliament is the Government’s changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, which is used in the event of redundancy.

I have had lots of emails and letters about this from workers concerned about how the changes will affect them.

I have written to Francis Maude, the cabinet secretary who has responsibility for the Civil Service, about this issue.

The most worrying thing is that the Government is refusing to talk to the unions about the changes it is making.

I have urged Mr Maude to engage with the unions and to meet with me so I can raise constituents’ concerns directly with him. I have also been contacted by a number of constituents about staffing cuts at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Many DWP workers are on temporary or fixed term contracts and their future job security is unclear.

Given the continued uncertainty over the economy, and looming budget cuts which many are warning will inevitably lead to job cuts throughout the public sector, it seems foolish at best to let so many trained workers go.

I have written the Ian Duncan-Smith, the Work and Pensions secretary, to raise these points with him and to urge him to retain these staff. Before the General Election the Labour Party warned that voting in the Tories would put valued support like the Winter Fuel Allowance at risk.

David Cameron said that these were ‘lies’ and no such cuts would be made.

But now, reports indicate that the Government is considering changes to the Winter Fuel Payment.

I am concerned that fewer people may end up getting the payment if the scheme is reviewed.

Currently around 18,300 people in West Dunbartonshire qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment and I know how much people reply on it in the Winter to keep their homes warm.

Disappointingly, despite the worry and uncertainty in the country at the moment over the cuts, Cameron and Clegg are refusing to give any concrete answers just now, repeatedly saying that we have to wait for the Comprehensive Spending Review in October.

The problem with having so many millionaires in your cabinet is that they do not see how much worry their vague announcements cause to people balancing a household budget.

If you want to be kept informed about any of these issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 11 Castle Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QS. You can email me on info@gemmadoyle.org.uk or telephone 01389 734214.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 07 Sep 10

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