My Newsletter 16/03/18

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The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill Committee Once more, I’ve found myself on a Public Bill Committee, working to improve an important law passing through Parliament, that will affect local people. As I’ve mentioned previously, this is when a smaller group of representatives from Government and opposition get the opportunity to gather evidence and examine a Bill and proposed amendments in more detail than you’d get in the House during full readings. The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill has one central purpose – to institute an absolute cap on energy prices for domestic customers until at least 2020, with power to extend the cap until 2023. While the best way to save money on your energy bill is to switch regularly and avoid being left on the wrong tariff, the cap in this Bill is aimed particularly at those customers not switching and remaining on standard variable tariffs – the most expensive tariff available. This has been a Labour policy since Ed Miliband was leader. It was written off originally but now all parties agree on it. I support this Bill, but it has taken far too long to get to this stage and I worry that it’s too little too late for some people. This winter, and the week-before-last particularly, has been the coldest since records began. If the Conservatives had implemented their manifesto commitment in June instead of repeatedly dithering, rowing back and passing the buck to Ofgem consumers could have already been protected. My position on this Committee has allowed me to fight to freeze energy bills – something that I know will make a massive difference to lots of you in Nottingham North, even now that the worst of the cold is over, as poor and more vulnerable people are those most likely to find themselves on the most expensive standard variable tariffs. As I mentioned before, changing tariff is the simplest way to save money on your energy bills, so I recommend considering this if you haven’t done recently. The uSwitch website here can help. I spoke with Richard Neudegg from uSwitch this week, who briefed me on the Bill as well as discussing how to keep energy prices low. |
Parliamentary Questions While this week didn’t offer the same opportunities for questions in the House of Commons as last, I still had two opportunities to question the Government, once to hold them to account, and once to raise the success of the Jobs Fair (as shown above). |
Since the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar in 2018, there has been significantly increased scrutiny on the working conditions that workers there have to endure – both migrant (which make up the vast majority of the population) and Qatari. Issues which have been highlighted by Amnesty International include:
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In Nottingham As well as the really successful Jobs Fair there has been lots going on:
What’s On I want these emails to be as interesting as possible. That means there’ll be some politics – it’s important that I am held accountable. But I also want to offer information about what’s on locally. So, if you have an event you’d like me to advertise, let me know. |
Easter Sunday at St. Mary’s Lost in Memories Erasmus+ funding Funding is also available for youth organisations in Nottingham North. Next deadline for youth funding is 26th April. More information here. Bilborough Arts Festival (BArts) Bulwell Arts Festival Applications Open! Deadline 31st March 2018 Joining Lines – Community Crochet Project for Bulwell Riverside Send your doilies to: Three Doors Down
Poems in the Pub Drop in Café Messy Church St Philip’s/St Matthew’s Knit & Natter groups Messy Church Bestwood/Bulwell Forest Messy Church Bestwood Park Church’s Bestop Kitchen Free Community Cinema Bulwell Connectors Crafty Ladies Crochet Clinic Sound as a Pound have asked me to advertise their 2-day finance ‘Money Talks’ courses in Nottingham. Transport and lunch are both provided, attendees will receive a £10 gift voucher for each day and there are plenty of other freebies on offer, as well as some sound money-saving advice! For further information you can call 0115 844 3745, email soundasapound@ncha.org.uk or visit their website at www.soundasapound.org.
If you would like your events advertised here, or further information on those advertised, please email me at alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk. That’s all for now! Details of how to get in touch or to have a look at the things I’m doing are below… All the best, Alex
How to contact me If you would like to contact me, please email alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk or give my Nottingham North constituency office a ring on 0115 975 2377. If you are a constituent from Nottingham North e-mailing me regarding a casework issue you are my priority, so please ensure your message includes:
Strict parliamentary protocol means I can only deal with issues on behalf of my own constituents. If you aren’t sure whether you live in Nottingham North, you can check who your local MP is by entering your postcode online here: findyourmp.parliament.uk. You may also wish to write to me with your concerns. If so please send your correspondence to Alex Norris MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A OAA. All constituents who take the time and trouble to write a personal letter will receive a reply as a matter of priority.
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