Social Justice

Harlow MP Robert Halfon seeks assurances over county court    

Published on 15 December 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has called on the Government to come up with assurances following the decision to close Harlow County Court. 

While Harlow Magistrates Court has won a reprieve, the county court is to close next April. 

Mr Halfon said: "The loss of the County Court will not be easy for residents. It will be particularly difficult for hard-working staff who have given many, many years of commitment to helping local people. Their dedication is second to none." 

During the courts announcement in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Halfon asked the Government what help would be given for users and staff of the county court. 

He asked: "Will the county court's functions be transferred to the magistrates court (in Harlow) or to Chelmsford?

"If they are transferred to Chelmsford, will consideration be given to people who have difficulty in travelling? Will a satellite county court be provided?"

Mr Halfon was told that it is hoped the retention of the magistrates court will enable at least some of the county court business to be carried out in the magistrates court.

Harlow MP Robert Halfon says "justice has been done" as Harlow Magistrates Court is saved    

Published on 14 December 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon's campaign to fight for Harlow Magistrates Court has been a success - with the court having been saved from closure. 

An announcement today confirmed that the town's courthouse would survive closure proposed by the Ministry of Justice. 

Harlow was among more than 100 courts across the country previously earmarked for closure. It is one of only ten courts that were on the original 'hit list' that have been saved. 

Mr Halfon had raised the case for the court to be saved in a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May and Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle. 

He also met with Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly MP to make the case for keeping it open. 

Mr Halfon said: "Justice has been done in Harlow. There was such a weight of evidence against closing the court and I am delighted that common sense has prevailed and the decision has been taken to keep the court open.

"I would like to thank all the councillors, magistrates, solicitors and organisations like Council Watch, the Citizens Advice Bureau, and the Magistrates Association, for their hard work and support in this campaign." 

Mr Halfon added that news that Harlow is potentially to benefit in a modernisation programme was "an added bonus". 

He said: "One of the courts at Harlow and the custody suite underwent a substantial facelift some years ago and I am delighted that the court might now benefit from a further injection of cash." 

The Justice Minister has announced an extra £22 million of investment to modernise the retained courts, including Harlow Magistrates Court.

Harlow MP Robert Halfon presses for a new law, allowing councils to give discounts to Special Constables   

Published on 14 December 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has tabled an amendment to The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

If passed into law, Special Constables will be able to receive discounts on their council tax. 

Mr Halfon, who has already met with Home Secretary Theresa May and Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle to discuss the issue, believes the move will be a real boost for the Special Constabulary. 

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Halfon said: "I have long believed that we must do more to support them (special constables) and make them into a reserve force, like the Territorial Army or reserve firemen. Since 1997, the number of specials has fallen dramatically from 20,000 to fewer than 14,000. 

"There is huge untapped potential for recruiting more specials, who are in many ways like neighbourhood watch - a genuinely local force and a vital source of community intelligence. 

"One suggestion is to allow councils to discount council tax for those who become specials. That would act as an incentive and fit in with the Government's big society proposals.

"The Association of Chief Police Officers supports the idea and Southampton City Council has already trialled a scheme, which offered special constables a rebate rather than an up-front discount on their council tax. 

"However, because of the legal uncertainties, the process took months and was only a one-off." 

He added: "Essex is lucky to have nearly 700 specials. If each was offered £100 off their council tax bill, it would cost the grand sum of £70,000. Given that the public sector spent £10 billion in Essex last year, £70,000 is not an astronomical sum. 

"I hope that the Minister and colleagues will be able to consider my amendment."

Harlow MP Robert Halfon to press for a new law, allowing councils to give discounts to Special Constables  

Published on 10 December 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon will on Monday table an amendment to The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

If passed into law, this will allow Special Constables to receive discounts on their council tax. 

Mr Halfon, who has already met with Home Secretary Theresa May and Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle to discuss the issue, believes the move will be a real boost for the Special Constabulary. 

He said: "I have argued a number of times that we seriously need to boost the Special Constabulary.

"One idea is to allow councils to discount council tax for those who become Specials. This would act as an incentive and would give something back to those Specials who do so much to give their efforts to communities. My Amendment would make this possible." 

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday) Mr Halfon said there was a "huge untapped potential" for recruiting more special constables". 

He said Essex Police had seen the number of Special Constables double over the past four years to nearly 700 officers, though numbers are declining nationally. 

Mr Halfon added that transforming the Special Constabulary into a Territorial Army-type force would enable specials to cover more policing duties and would offer excellent value for money while sustaining frontline operational services. 

Special Constables, Mr Halfon said, are a "genuinely local force", like Neighbourhood Watch, who offer an invaluable source of community intelligence. 

Mr Halfon's comments were welcomed by Sir George Young, Leader of the House of Commons, who said he endorsed Mr Halfon's support for special constables. 

Southampton City Council has already trialled a scheme which saw Special Constables offered a rebate on their council tax. However, because of the legal uncertainties, the process took months and was only a one-off. 

Mr Halfon hopes his amendment will enable local authorities to act quickly, and permanently, to "exempt special constables from paying council tax, or to give them a substantial discount"

Harlow MP Robert Halfon welcomes incentive scheme for Special Constables  

Published on 29 September 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon is welcoming the possibility of an incentive scheme for Special Constables.

Mr Halfon, who has been campaigning for a Territorial Army-style Special Constable force which would see Specials receive benefits for their service. 

He has raised the issue several times in the House of Commons and lobbied the Home Secretary and Police Minister. 

Now it is proposed to offer Special Constables council tax rebates and special loyalty cards guaranteeing cash discounts.

Mr Halfon believes such a move would help boost the number of Special Constables whose numbers have dwindled in recent years. 

He said: "I'm really pleased to see that Home Office Ministers are intent on encouraging Specials and are looking at a number of options. These include reducing council tax and special loyalty cards guaranteeing cash discounts of one sort or another. 

"This is good news. Those who volunteer to become Specials should be recognised - and rewarded. Specials should be established as a cohesive force. 

"This would not only create a collective sense of purpose but would strengthen Specials as an integral part of the local community."

Harlow MP Robert Halfon discusses policing issues and the proposal to close Harlow Magistrates Court during meeting with Home Secretary and Essex Chief Constable  

Published on 22 September 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has had a "productive" meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May and Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle when he raised the issue of the proposed closure of Harlow Magistrates' Court. 

Mr Halfon also raised the issue of voluntary 'railway' Special Constables which he wants to see introduced on the railways following the high nuimber of deaths on the rail lines near Harlow's stations.

With regards to the proposed closure of the town's court - and the proposal to close Epping Magistrates Court - Mr Halfon is concerned about the potential impact on policing should Chelmsford become the nearest court. 

The closure of Harlow would have a major impact both on the local community and police officers who would have to travel to Chelmsford for warrants. 

Mr Halfon said: "I believe a magistrates' court is vital for Harlow as we are a major growth town. The Ministry of Justice already admit that our court is a busy and thriving place, used Monday to Friday.

"If we lost the court one potential threat to policing would be a delay to the issue of search warrants, out of office hours, as police officers would have to be driven to Chelmsford, sworn in front of a magistrate and then driven back to Harlow." 

Mr Halfon added: "Overall it was a productive meeting. The Home Secretary was confident that despite the tough decisions that we have to take on the economy, Essex Police will be well-placed to continue their work in Harlow. 

"For example Essex Police are committed to keeping Harlow Police Station open 24 hours a day.

"During the meeting I also raised the idea of voluntary 'railway' Special Constables. Their sole focus would be to patrol the platforms to identify any suspicious behaviour, and prevent it. 

"They would be community volunteers and would have similar powers to other Special Constables. Hopefully, this would help to reduce fatalities on the London to Harlow train line, which have been a problem in recent years."

Harlow MP Robert Halfon opposes closure of Harlow Magistrates Court   

Published on 7 September 2010

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon is opposing plans to close Harlow Magistrates Court saying the move would impinge on local policing. 

Mr Halfon, who has sent a submission detailing his views to the Ministry of Justice, said: "The Ministry of Justice's own consultation document admits that Harlow Magistrates' Court is a busy and thriving court with a 'reasonable' workload and it accepts that the court, which is used Monday to Friday, shares among the highest numbers of magistrates of any court in Essex." 

The proposed closure was discussed when Mr Halfon met Harlow Chief Superintendent Simon Williams who said the loss of the court would delay the issue of search warrants, which would have to be driven to Chelmsford, sworn in front of a magistrate and then driven back to Harlow. 

With Harlow continuing to grow, Mr Halfon has underlined the fact that there will continue to be a need for a magistrates court in the town. 

He said: "The urban extensions that are planned and currently under development will add tens of thousands of population over the next ten years. 

"Harlow Magistrates' Court has the capacity to grow, to become a sub-regional hub. The Ministry of Justice consultation document states that 'additional land around the periphery of the courthouse has been secured for a possible rebuild/extension. A new cell block was built in 2008-09'.” 

He states the case for closing the court is made entirely on direct costs to the Ministry of Justice rather than holistic costs to the public purse. 

"There is no assessment of the increased costs of running a larger Chelmsford court, no assessment of the increased workload that will inevitably fall on the police with more warrants for non-attendance and no assessment of the greater travelling times and cost for local police officers to attend court in Chelmsford or to swear in search warrants out of normal working hours with magistrates in Chelmsford,"

Mr Halfon added. "This will also mean police officers, because of the increased travel times, will be away from front-line duties. This incurs an opportunity cost. 

"There is also presumably a cost to the Ministry of Justice budget in increased late and non-attendance caused by difficult travel. 

"Some assessment of these points would help to determine whether the closure of Harlow Magistrates' Court is genuine value for money." 

He said: "I wholeheartedly support the need to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the HMCS magistrates’ estate. However my concerns are that Harlow Magistrates' Court is highly utilised,

"Harlow has a high crime-rate and the loss of the court would pose a major operational problem for local police. 

"Harlow is a major growth town and the court has recently been invested in, and has the capacity to grow. The court is linked to the police station by a tunnel so the building cannot be sold without major and expensive renovation. 

"Taking all these factors into account, I am concerned that the true holistic cost of closure has not been assessed."

Harlow MP Robert Halfon gives his backing to Special Constables as he calls for more 'Specials' to be taken on by Essex Police and forces nationwide   

Published on 19 July 2010

A CHANGE to the way the Special Constabulary is run would put more officers onto our streets, Harlow MP Robert Halfon has said. 

Mr Halfon has voiced his support for the Special Constabulary but says they could cover more policing duties and offer excellent value for money if they were transformed into a "Territorial Army-type force". 

Mr Halfon has said the cost of the additional officers could be paid for by rebalancing our police forces over several years. 

He said: "For example, as natural churn and retirement thin the ranks of police community support officers (PCSO), each PCSO could be replaced by two or three special constables, each on a Territorial Army-type stipend. 

"That would increase a force's overall capacity at times of crisis, as well as save money. It would also do a huge amount to boost retention among specials, who are very expensive to train, recruit and equip.

"Specials make up a genuinely local force, like Neighbourhood Watch, and offer an invaluable source of community intelligence." 

He added: "For the past six years, Essex Police Authority has been working in harmony and partnership with the Conservative Essex County Council and Kent Police Authority. 

"During that time, Essex's specials force has doubled from 350 officers to nearly 700. 

"That is a credit to Essex Police Authority and the brave volunteers who serve the public as specials, often in hazardous conditions. 

"We need to build on that solid base by incentivising specials to work more hours and develop professionally."

Harlow MP Robert Halfon praises the Special Constabulary as he calls for it to be transformed into a Territorial Army-type force   

Published on 15 July 2010

TRANSFORMING the Special Constabulary into a Territorial Army-type force would enable 'Specials' to cover more policing duties and offer excellent value for money, Harlow MP Robert Halfon has claimed.

Mr Halfon, who was speaking in a parliamentary debate, said the change would help reduce the £900 billion of public debt.

Essex Chief Constable Jim Baker-McCardle has pledged to sustain frontline operational services - however the force has made 25 per cent efficiencies in four years and spends just £153 per capita on policing each year compared with £175 per year elsewhere.

Mr Halfon says his reforms to the Special Constabulary could deliver better policing given the current financial restraints.

"That (the reform) could be paid for by rebalancing our police forces over several years.

"For example, as natural churn and retirement thin the ranks of police community support officers, each PCSO could be replaced by two or three special constables, each on a TA-type stipend.

"That would increase a force's overall capacity at times of crisis, as well as save money. It would also do a huge amount to boost retention among specials, who are very expensive to train, recruit and equip.

"Specials make up a genuinely local force, like Neighbourhood Watch, and offer an invaluable source of community intelligence."

Mr Halfon said that for the past six years, Essex Police Authority has been working with the Conservative-controlled county council and Kent Police Authority during which time Essex's Special Constabulary has doubled from 350 officers to nearly 700.

Mr Halfon said: "That is a credit to Essex Police Authority and the brave volunteers who serve the public as specials, often in hazardous conditions. We need to build on that solid base by incentivising specials to work more hours and develop professionally."

Police Minister Nick Herbert agreed with Mr Halfon regarding the importance of Special Constables and said there was "a huge untapped potential" to recruit more in the future.

"We should take that seriously," he said.

HARLOW STAR: Star gives Harlow’s general election candidates the chance to present their parties’ policies...
This week: home affairs   

Published on 29 Apr 2010

  More...

Prospective Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon welcomes David Cameron's Big Society in Harlow  

Published on 11 Apr 2010

PROSPECTIVE Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon has spoken out in support of David Cameron’s plans for a massive expansion in volunteering and charity work in Harlow. 

Cameron’s plans for a Big Society include:

* A Neighbourhood army of 5,000 full-time, professional community organisers. 
This policy is based on the successful volunteer movement established by Saul Alinsky in the United States, which has successfully trained generations of community organisers, including President Obama 

* A Big Society Bank, funded from unclaimed bank assets, which will provide hundreds of millions of pounds for charities and social enterprises

* National Citizen Service - a two-month summer break of volunteering for 16-year olds, including a residential stay away from home * Grants for poor areas, to encourage neighbourhoods to start their own charities 

* Transforming the civil service into a ‘civic service’ by making regular community service a key element in staff appraisals 

* Launching an annual national ‘Big Society Day’ to celebrate charity groups, and to encourage more people to take part in social action projects.

Mr Halfon, who is contesting the Harlow constituency - which includes the villages of Hastingwood, Matching, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering - said: "David Cameron’s plans will be hugely positive for Harlow.

"Some1,200 or more 16-year olds in Harlow will benefit from National Citizen Service after finishing their GCSEs. It will give them an opportunity to see Britain, get stuck into a social project, and have a great summer holiday away from home." 

He added: "I’m really excited. This policy is going to change Harlow, and change the lives of our 16-year olds. 

"Over the past ten years I have been privileged to work with many successful charities in Harlow. Our plans will give them the support they deserve. 

"In fact, Conservatives in Essex County Council are already blazing a trail in this direction, by giving over 30,000 civil servants paid leave to volunteer in charities, for two days a year. 

"Just imagine what we can achieve if we roll this out nationally."

FROM ROB'S BLOG: A most important speech - The Big Society  

Published on 1 Apr 2010

David Cameron yesterday gave what I believe to be one of the most important speeches he has made since becoming Conservative leader.

I say this without exaggeration as I really believe the proposals contained, could help transform community renewal up and down our country.

Community activism, is a core part of Conservatism: Strengthening local communities - supporting families, neighbourhood groups, local schools, faith groups and the like, are the best way of rebuilding our broken society.

What the Conservative Leader set out yesterday, was a series of measures to transform the very nature of community activities.

These include the following:

• Neighbourhood army of 5,000 full-time, professional community organisers who will be trained with the skills they need to identify local community leaders, bring communities together, help people start their own neighbourhood groups, and give communities the help they need to take control and tackle their problems. This plan is directly based on the successful community organising movement established by Saul Alinsky in the United States and has successfully trained generations of community organisers, including President Obama
  

• A Big Society Bank, funded from unclaimed bank assets, which will leverage private sector investment to provide hundreds of millions of pounds of new finance for neighbourhood groups, charities, social enterprises and other non-governmental bodies
  

• Neighbourhood grants for the UK’s poorest areas to encourage people to come together to form neighbourhood groups and support social enterprises and charities in these poorest areas
  

• Transforming the civil service into a ‘civic service’ by making regular community service a key element in civil servant staff appraisals
  

• Launching an annual national ‘Big Society Day’ to celebrate the work of neighbourhood groups and encourage more people to take part in social action projects
  

• Providing new funding to support the next generation of social entrepreneurs, and helping successful social enterprises to expand and succeed."

All these proposals, alongside local devolution, elected police commissioners, parental right to set up their own schools, public service co-operatives and local referenda on key areas such as finance and housing, will do much to put the punch into community power.

They mean a shift from Government diktat down to communities.

Potentially, some of the most fundamental shifts of power from Government to society, since Margaret Thatcher devolved economic power from the state to consumers.

Read David Cameron's speech in full click here
or you can click here to download a copy in PDF format. 

Almost all Harlow residents will be better off by at least £150 under a Conservative government, says prospective Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon   

Published on 30 Mar 2010

GORDON Brown has long-planned to hike National Insurance, hitting Harlow people on lower and middle incomes.

This week however the Conservatives fought back. David Cameron and his team announced plans to scrap Labour's extra tax on jobs, to protect the economic recovery.

This means that under a Conservative Government, almost all Harlow residents will be better off by at least £150.

Robert Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency - which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon, and Sheering at the general election - said: "This is great news for Harlow's 2,840 businesses, or for the 44,800 people who are either employed or self-employed in the town."

"The NI rise was both unjust and unnecessary, and it hit people on lower incomes the hardest. I am glad the Conservatives have shown which side they are on - lower taxes for lower earners, cutting waste and debt, and creating the conditions for Britain to become an enterprise economy once again."

FROM ROB'S BLOG: A pledge to pensioners   

Published on 26 Mar 2010

I HAVE written before about how Labour's very raison d'etre is to campaign on the politics of fear. 

By frightening vulnerable groups such as pensioners with mythical "Tory cuts", Gordon Brown hopes to steal a last minute election victory. 

Yet, as I wrote yesterday, it is this very Labour Government that has publicly stated its intention to make more savage cuts than happened even during Mrs Thatcher's time as Prime Minister.

For this reason, I am pleased David Cameron has tackled the politics of fear head-on and announced a number of pledges to pensioners. 

This is of real importance than because we have more pensioners living in poverty in the UK - than anywhere in Western Europe.

A Conservative Government will keep the free bus pass, will maintain the winter fuel payment and the pension credit. 

Moreover, Conservatives will restore the earnings link to pensions and increase the value of the basic state pension. 

For those with personal pensions, there will be an end to the rule forcing pensioners to get a compulsory annuity. 

Assistance will also be given to help people with long term care, so they don't have to sell their homes.

This is good news for pensioners and bad news for the Brownite fear-mongers.

JOBS: GSK redundancies - statement  

Published on 9 Feb 2010

FOLLOWING news of redundancies at the GSK site in Harlow, prospective Conservative MP Robert Halfon issued the following statement

"Having visited the GSK site very recently I am very disappointed that they are closing part of the site.
"I discussed the issue with GSK last week and I will be hoping that everything possible is done to ensure that those who will be made redundant are given other job opportunities or the training and skills needed for them to apply for other jobs if they so choose.

"My main worry is not just for the people who may lose their jobs but also those people who will be hurt indirectly by this decision.

"I believe this could have a major effect on the supply chain in Harlow affecting other jobs and the economy in general.

"I have had discussions with Harlow councillors about schemes available to help people made redundant. 

"This decision by GSK is a sad reflection on the economic situation and comes hot on the heels of a number of job losses in Harlow.

"The one bright spot is that I am proud that the Olympic drug-testing will take place at GSK in Harlow and I hope this means the company is determined to stay and maintain a strong presence in the town."

PERSONAL FINANCE: Robert Halfon hits out at move to phase out cheques  

Published on 23 Dec 2009

PROSPECTIVE Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon has spoken out at proposals to phase out cheques saying pensioners and local small businesses would be particularly badly hit.

It has been announced that cheque books are to be phased out by October 2018. 

But Mr Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering at the next general election, has branded the decision "thoughtless" saying people in Harlow, including pensioners and local small businesses, will be affected should cheques disappear.

He said: "While many people rely on credit and debit cards and online banking to pay their bills, there are still millions of people - and thousands in my constituency - who would be lost without their cheque book." 

He added: "What are pensioners expected to do if this goes ahead? The Government has already overseen the closure of numerous post offices in rural communities so there are now far fewer places where pensioners can go to close to their homes to withdraw their money. 

"Many pensioners do not do internet banking and so need cheques to pay their bills.

"This decision could force people to withdraw cash and keep it in a safe place at home, which could then spark an increase in opportunist thieves who will target the elderly who they think have money stashed away."

He added: "Small businesses too rely on cheques to pay some of their suppliers."

WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS: Labour MP accused of scaremongering over Winter Fuel Payments  

Published on 23 Dec 2009

PROSPECTIVE Conservative Harlow MP Robert Halfon has spoken out accusing Harlow MP Bill Rammell of scaremongering after saying pensioners are better off financially - thanks to the Winter Fuel Allowance - under Labour than they would be under the Conservatives. 

Mr Rammell claimed the Conservatives oppose the extra Winter Fuel Payments announced in this year's budget of £100 for pensioners aged over 80 and £50 for those aged over 60s. 

But Mr Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering at the next general election, said: "The next Conservative Government will re-link the state pension to earnings and we have made clear that we will keep the Winter Fuel Allowance that is valued by so many in Harlow. 

"Government figures showt fuel poverty is up 64 per cent on what it was in 2007. Pensioners and other families are more vulnerable to high fuel bills during this cold snap than they have been for years.

"Conservatives have a comprehensive plan to reduce fuel poverty. It is time for action not gestures."
 
Mr Halfon added: "With high home energy prices, Harlow's poorest people face their toughest winter for years. Without immediate help, many will face going into debt to stay warm. 

"Conservatives have developed a series of practical policies to help this winter and in future years." 

He added the Conservatives will introduce a new entitlement through its Green Deal for every home to be fitted immediately with up to £6,500 of approved energy efficiency improvements, with the costs being repaid through the very much greater savings made, thus delivering immediate reductions in energy bills. 

He said: "We will require energy companies to provide information on energy bills that shows customers clearly whether they are on the cheapest tariff offered by that company - and if they are not, shows them exactly how much they would save if they switched to the cheapest tariff, and how they can do so. 

"We will expand the role of the Post Office Card Account (basic cash accounts run by the DWP for receipt of welfare, pension and tax credit deposits) so it could be used by pensioners to make direct debit payments on utility bills. This could cut the energy bills of up to 4 million POCA holders by up to £100 a year. 

"And we will require complete transparency in the energy market so that when energy prices fall in the world market they fall for customers too."

BENEFITS: Call to protect pensioners from Brown’s plans to scrap benefits  

Published on 21 Nov 2009

SOME 3,000 people in Harlow and the surrounding villages could lose their disability benefits, prospective Conservative MP Robert Halfon has warned. 

He has voiced his opposition to Gordon Brown’s plans to scrap disability benefits for the elderly in Harlow. 

The small print of Labour’s plans to create a National Care Service reveals they will scrap Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for pensioners to pay for it. 

An average £3,400 a year will be snatched away from 2.4 million pensioners - equivalent to a quarter of the average pensioner’s income.

In the Harlow constituency, which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering, this would affect 3,000 pensioners - 2.030 who receive Attendance Allowance, worth an average of £60 a week, and 970 who receive Disability Living Allowance, worth an average of £75 a week. 

Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are based on need; they are not means tested and are intended to cover the extra costs arising from the impact the disability has on the life of the disabled person. 

The key feature of these benefits is that they can be spent by disabled people how they wish, without restrictions, to best support their individual care needs. 

Robert Halfon said: "Gordon Brown has chosen to penalise one of the most vulnerable groups in our society for the sake of another of his eye-catching announcements. As with every Labour initiative, someone has to pay and, as with many of them, it is once again those who are least able to afford it who are hit by Brown. 

"These benefits provide vital support for disabled pensioners, giving them the chance to lead an independent life with the freedom to tailor their care to their needs.

"Of course, we need to do more to help people with their care costs, but it is completely wrong to do so at the expense of disabled pensioners. 

"Conservatives will protect Harlow's pensioners and fight against Gordon Brown’s plan to scrap benefits for the disabled." 

Last Thursday Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May and Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley launched the Conservatives' campaign to Protect Britain’s Pensioners against the Labour’s Government’s proposals to integrate Attendance Allowance (which is only paid to the over-65s) and Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s into a future social care system.

The Conservatives want to do more to help people with their care costs, but the Party also believe it is completely wrong to do this at the expense of disabled pensioners.

Letter - 'Time to support our atomic test veterans'

Published on 21 Nov 2009

Sir,

After the Gurkhas, there is another group of veterans that strongly need our support. 

The Government - and that includes Bill Rammell, the Harlow Labour MP who is also the Armed Forces Minister - should now recognise that the atomic test veterans deserve justice. 

During the 1950s, members of the armed forces were told to watch atomic test blasts in the South Pacific.

As a result, many of these veterans subsequently suffered varying degrees of sickness, most probably linked to radiation and three veterans a month are now dying. 

Although for many years they were denied the right to compensation, in a landmark ruling last June, these veterans were given the right to take legal action to claim compensation from the Government - and a chance to get an acknowledgment of both their suffering and regret for having had to endure the atomic tests. 

Astonishingly, the Government has opposed the veterans' actions, arguing that they had waited too long to claim compensation - despite the fact that their efforts of some years had been rebuffed. 

This is despite the fact that other countries - most notably the USA and Canada, which undertook similar tests - have accepted it was a mistake to conduct such tests. 

The Government is now appealing against this decision, trying to kick this into the long grass. 
Time and time again, this Government has demonstrated cavalier treatment of our armed forces. 

They only acted on the Gurkhas after tremendous public pressure. Instead of penny pinching and legal sophistry, they should act without delay and give these former members of our armed forces the compensation they deserve. 

So come on Mr Rammell and this Labour Government, act before being pushed once again by public opinion. 

Robert Halfon, prospective Conservative MP for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering.

BENEFITS: The housing benefit system is "failing Harlow's most vulnerable tenants"

Published on 26 Oct 2009

THE housing benefit system is failing Harlow's most vulnerable tenants, according to Harlow prospective Conservative MP Robert Halfon. 

Mr Halfon, a keen supporter of Harlow Homeless Centre, raised his concerns over the Government's changes when Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps visited the centre at Mr Halfon's invitation. 
He said Government changes are also reducing the availability of affordable housing. 

Mr Halfon, who will contest the Harlow consituency - which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering - at the next general election, said: "7,005 people in Harlow are on local housing waiting lists, and a sizeable proportion of them are on housing benefit. 

"Housing waiting lists in Harlow have risen by 294 per cent under this Labour Government - reflecting the shortage of affordable accommodation." 

In neighbouring Epping Forest there are 3,967 people on local housing waiting lists - up 208 per cent since 1997. 

Mr Halfon said: "I am glad the Conservatives have pledged to change Labour's failed policy. Tenants will be able to choose whether to have their housing allowance paid direct to their landlord. This will increase the availability of quality low-cost housing. 

"Last year Labour Ministers introduced a new ‘Local Housing Allowance’, with housing benefit being paid direct to the tenant rather than to the landlord. But vulnerable tenants often struggle to manage their finances and spend their rent money on other things. 

"Homeless charity Crisis has warned this can result in rent arrears and eventually homelessness." 

Mr Halfon said: "Labour's new housing benefit rules are failing the most vulnerable in our society. Landlords are put off from renting to those on benefit, slashing the availability of decent places to live. Some tenants struggle to manage their finances, using up their benefit money by rent pay day. They get into arrears and trouble as a result. 

"Tenants should have greater choice, and be free to specify that their housing benefit should go direct to the landlord. This will help those most in need." 

Mr Halfon added: "Landlords who were previously happy to take on tenants on housing benefit have suffered from non-payment of rent. Many landlords now routinely refuse to let to Local Housing Allowance claimants. 

"According to the National Landlords Association, half of all landlords are reluctant to lend to tenants on Local Housing Allowance."

JOBS AND DEBT: Action needed to tackle the jobs crisis and debt crisis

Published on 12 Oct 2009

PROSPECTIVE Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon has welcomed new Conservative proposals to get people working in Harlow and Epping Forest and to tackle the growing burden of government debt.

This comes as Government figures showed that in September 2009 there were 2,747 people unemployed in Harlow and 2,141 in Epping Forest claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, with 11 job seekers in Harlow and nine in Epping Forest chasing every Job Centre vacancy in the constituencies. 

National debt is forecast to double to £1.4 trillion – equivalent to £22,500 of debt for every man, woman and child in Harlow and Epping Forest. 

Under detailed new Conservative plans, Labour’s numerous and piecemeal work programmes would be simplified into a single back-to-work programme for everyone on out-of-work benefits. 

This would be backed up with new and additional work pairings, apprenticeships, further education college places and vocational education for young people. 

There would also be programmes to support self-employment, work clubs and volunteering opportunities to help people prepare for work and find jobs. 

Action would also be taken to tackle Britain’s debt crisis, by reducing the cost of government while protecting front line services. 

Measures would include reducing the administrative costs of Whitehall and its quangos; capping the biggest government pensions; a pay freeze for public sector workers in 2011 - except the million lowest paid; concentrating benefit spending on the poorest and most vulnerable; and tackling the pensions time bomb while ensuring a decent standard of living in old age. 

Mr Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency - which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering at the next general election - said: "Some of the biggest challenges facing Harlow and Epping Forest are Labour’s jobs crisis and debt crisis. 

"There are already 11 people chasing each job vacancy in Harlow and nine chasing every vacancy in Epping Forest and we will soon each be burdened with £22,500 of government debt. 

"We need to rebuild our broken economy, mend our broken society and fix our broken politics. Help should be directed towards those in our society who are most in need. 

"Modern Conservatives will reward those who take responsibility, and care for those who can’t."

Letter - Unemployment in Harlow

Published on 21 Sept 2009

Sir,

Have you ever heard of the word 'Chutzpah'? It is an old yiddish word for 'bare faced cheek' and is usually used to describe someone's action's in the face of difficulty. 

Well, I thought of this expression, when I read about the high unemployment levels in Harlow. In essence, the article highlighted a report, funded by the East of England Development Agency, showing that Harlow had one of the highest unemployment levels in the East of England. 

Harlow has had a 2.5 per cent increase in unemployment claims. 

The town has sadly suffered the worst of of the Government's mishandling of the economy - repossessions are high, taxes are high and now we have the dreadful unemployment figures. 
So where does 'Chutzpah' come in? 

Well, astonishingly, the Labour MP for Harlow, seeks to blame the ever increasing unemployment on the Conservatives despite his party having been in power since 1997. 

He claims the Conservatives oppose a '£5 billion unemployment package' to help the unemployed.
Well, I am mystified by this claim. It would be interesting to know from which mythical set of figures he chose to use. 

You always know when someone is flaying at the edges, the bigger the porky pies that are told. The truth is rather different. 

People simply don't believe Labour's dishonest scaremongering about what the Conservatives will do.

Far from being inactive on unemployment, we have been calling on the Government for years to introduce welfare reform, to develop a network of back to work centres that can offer people personalised support, advice and training to help them back into employment. 

During this recession Conservatives have led the way on policies to respond to the unemployment crisis, such as subsidies to employers to help create new jobs and encourage companies to take on the unemployed, which Labour belatedly took up. 

The reality is that Labour's reckless approach to the public finances means they will be raising taxes on jobs just as the economy will be trying to recover. It is time for Labour, and for the Government MPs, to get real and face up to their responsibilities. 

Rather than trying to blame the Conservatives for everything they should apologise to the electorate for the economic mess we are all in after 12 years of Labour rule.

Instead of accusing the Tories of exaggerated cuts, they should set out their own spending plans and what they are going to do to reduce the £804 billion deficit they have caused - with over £16.5 billion borrowing this month alone. 

Robert Halfon, prospective Conservative MP for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering.

Action needed to reverse Labour’s binge-drinking culture, says prospective Conservative Harlow MP Robert Halfon

Published on 26 Aug 2009

ROBERT Halfon, prospective Conservative Harlow MP has added his voice to calls for action to rein back in Labour’s licensing laws and take tough action against the uncontrolled spread in binge-drinking.

The latest Home Office crime figures have revealed that last year (2008-09) there were 1,800 violent attacks in Harlow and 1,474 in the Epping Forest district. 

Based on Government surveys of crime victims, this suggests that 846 of the Harlow attacks and 693 of the Epping Forest incidents could have been alcohol-related. 

There is growing concern about the overlapping problems of late-night drinking, fast-food outlets selling alcohol at night, under-age drinking, the easy availability of high-strength alcohol, and retailers like supermarkets selling alcohol below cost price. 

Labour’s licensing laws, which came into effect in 2005, have created a presumption in favour of alcohol licences being given out, and imposed tight restrictions on who can object to any licensing application.

The Police Federation has warned that the need to police town centres around the clock is making it harder to answer emergency calls elsewhere. 

Conservative leader David Cameron has explained how the Conservative Party will tackle the problems of binge-drinking Britain: 

* Stronger powers and more discretion for elected local councils, and a greater say for local residents on licensing applications

* Tougher penalties for premises which sell alcohol to under-age drinkers

* Reviewing the rules which allow fast food outlets like kebab shops to sell alcohol into the early hours

* Changing the law to stop the ‘loss-leading’ sale of alcohol by retailers

* Rebalancing the duty on alcohol: reducing rates on low-alcohol beers and ciders, and increasing it on very high-strength products (the likes of Tennent’s Super) and on alcopops. 

Mr Halfon said: “Labour’s licensing laws are too lax. We don’t want a return to the old days where every pub shut at 11pm. But local councils like Harlow and Epping Forest need greater powers to tackle the binge-drinking and violence that plague our town centres. 

"The reckless sale of high-strength, bargain-basement alcohol is damaging health and fuelling violence.

“Conservatives believe that socially responsible adults should be able to have a night out without fear of violence. Parents should be reassured that their children are not going to come to harm. 

“The community pubs in Harlow, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering should not be tarred with the same brush as irresponsible ‘vertical drinking’ bars or fast food outlets peddling booze into the early hours. “We need to make our town centres feel safe at night once again."

RWANDA: Langley Rangers shirts and Harlow Council pens will be gifts to students during prospective Conservative MP's Rwanda trip

Published on 13 Jul 2009

FOOTBALL shirts donated by Harlow's Langley Rangers Football Club and pens from Harlow Council will be given by prospective Conservative MP Robert Halfon when he travels to Rwanda this week to teach English to English teachers. 

His two-week visit follows another last year which he described as "one of the most moving and incredible experiences of my life". 

Mr Halfon arrives in the capital Kigali on Thursday to teach in a different school from last time. 

He said: "I am really excited as this time I have some great gifts to hand to my students. 

"Thanks to the kindness of Harlow Council chairman Edna Stephens I have loads of council pens to hand out. These are items that will be treasured by the Rwandans. In addition, Gary O'Donnell, director of Langley Rangers - a club I am closely involved with having helped with some fund-raising - has given me 55 Langley Rangers football shirts. 

"I can't wait to give these out and I know they will be a huge hit with the students, who, like us in England, are just crazy about all things to do with soccer and the beautiful game! 

"The generosity of Langley Rangers is quite extraordinary, particularly since they go to great efforts to raise funds to pay for their own kit and sundry items." 

Mr Halfon said: "People ask me why I am going back - to which the answer is simple. I just want to make a difference, albeit in a small way. This is a country in which one million people were murdered in 100 days in 1994 - in what was a scientific and carefully planned genocide. 

"At the time the world did nothing. Yet, despite the tragedy, Rwanda is a place that learns from the past but does not live in the past. It is a country that has a great future, good Government and is slowly building civil society with a strong economy." 

He added: "This time I go better prepared. I have done another TEFL teaching course over one long day, to brush up my somewhat inadequate teaching skills.

"Last year I was terrified before I taught my first class and then found I loved it as I realised teaching was hard work but fulfilling and fun too." 

He makes the journey with a plentiful stock of mosquito repellent.

"I can't wait to go back to Rwanda, although I will greatly miss my girlfriend Vanda who has to stay in England to study for her important advanced English exams in August. But, I have promised to bring her back some nice presents! 

"Rwanda is a truly captivating country. Rolling hills, lush greenery everywhere, dignified and kind inhabitants.

"I think after last year, my return was inevitable and I look forward to updating my blog - when I can - as email is limited - as to what happens, whilst I am there."