SNP MP Ronnie Cowan has called on the UK Government to urgently clarify whether it supports private contractor Concentrix’s practice of indiscriminately sending phishing letters to low-income families in a bid to uncover fraudulent tax credit claims.

The MP for Inverclyde has condemned the “ethically reprehensible” letters and has called on the UK government to clarify whether is supports the practices employed by Concentrix.

Commenting, Ronnie Cowan MP said:

“Many of my constituents have received these “phishing letters” from Concentrix asking them about an undisclosed partner. Receiving a letter that accuses you of committing fraud can be extremely worrying and places additional stress on already struggling households.

“These letters are ethically reprehensible and this practice speak volumes of the UK Government’s current priorities.

“This is indicative of the Tory Government’s attitude, where it pursues relatively small figures from those on low incomes whilst they negotiate down tax payments from their large corporate friends.

 “The Tories have questions to answer over the disgraceful practice of indiscriminately sending letters containing accusations of fraud to low income families.”

Notes

According to Wikipedia Phishing is the attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

• Since 2014, HMRC has contracted Synnex-Concentrix UK Ltd to tackle fraud and error payments on a payments-by-results basis but according to the National Audit Office’s report on HMRC accounts for 2014/15, the success of the contract has been far lower than expected.  HMRC estimates that the project delivered savings of £500,000 in 2014/15 instead of the £285 million originally forecast.

• The original estimate of £1billion savings over the three- year contract is not achievable and HMRC instead estimates that the project will only deliver savings of £423 million but this is dependent on an increase of staff and an improvement in performance.

Membership of the SNP has grown to over 115,000 – putting the party in a strong position ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in its efforts to secure a historic third term in government

Image: Synnex-Concentrix UK Ltd

A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that while employment levels are rising, the risk of having insufficient income has risen “substantially” for couple parents working full-time and that things are getting “progressively worse” for families with children in the UK as a result of Tory benefit cuts in particular. The report also notes that the imposition of the Bedroom Tax, which represents 12 per cent of the “minimum weekly budget for a single person”, has contributed to a higher risk of low income in social tenants in the UK.

The report in full can be downloaded below. 

The policy towards Junior doctors is a shambles. It shows the whole mess that’s the government’s policies towards welfare. 

We liked this letter by Rich Bowman

Last night I was the sole doctor on site caring for over 100 patients who were acutely unwell with complications from their cancer. Some couldn't breathe, some were fighting overwhelming infections with literally no immune system, one had bleeding in their head, one had a blockage in their bowels. If I made a mistake because I was tired, any one of these patients could've died.

Every cancer patient in the south Birmingham region has a direct line to call for advice or help. 11 new unwell patients arrived and I assessed and treated them too.

There was not a single manager in the whole hospital. Last night, I ran the oncology service for the whole south Birmingham region from inside the biggest teaching hospital in Europe.
Apparently I have no transferable skills to find a different job.

And then I stood on a picket line in the cold to save our NHS. But my shift wasn't during the strike, it was just what countless other junior doctors do every-day.

I am 27 years old. I work 60 hours a week, for the 48 that I'm paid for, I earn £18/hour.

Apparently I lack vocation, I'm overpaid and I need to work harder.

Screw you Jeremy Hunt. We never asked for thanks. All we do is for our patients, how dare you try and turn them against us. All of this is your government's fault. Well you've picked a fight with the wrong crowd.

Go on, announce imposition, and just see what the most resilient, driven, passionate, intelligent group of people in Britain do next. Bring it on.

+++

If you think Jeremy Hunt should go please sign the petition. 

According to Wikipedia  - Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (born 1 November 1966) is a British Conservative Party politician, who is the Secretary of State for Health, and the Member of Parliament for South West Surrey. He was previously Culture Secretary (2010–12). As Health Secretary, he has been criticised by some for, amongst other things, his support of homeopathy, dangerous advice on meningitis, and imposing a contract with longer hours on junior doctors.

The SNP has today called on Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to "urgently rethink" the continued rollout of the Tories' controversial Universal Credit benefit.
 
In a written statement to the House of Commons, Iain Duncan Smith set out the next phase of the rollout stating that it "remains on track to be delivered nationally for all types of claimants from May 2016, completing in summer 2018."
 
*Commenting, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, SNP spokesperson for Social Justice and Welfare, said:
 
"On the face of it Universal Credit sounds like it should work: a smooth, streamlined system to assist low income families.  But just under the surface lurks many fractures and failings from set-backs and secrecy to hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer's money written off on IT changes.
 
"It is clear that the Tories are simply trudging on with the rollout of Universal Credit without addressing any of the fundamental flaws or concerns about these draconian policies and I call on Iain Duncan Smith to urgently rethink these proposals. 
 
"The Scottish people voted for an end to austerity when they voted for the SNP, they deserve the leadership they voted for not to face the welfare storm that the Tories are brewing. 
 
"The failures of the UK Government to devolve full power over Universal Credit, means it is left to Scotland to pick up the tab for the Tories poor economic choices and shoddy governance. 
 
"Only with full powers over welfare will Scotland be able to secure a fair and supportive welfare system that our people deserve."

*From Wikipedia Eilidh Whiteford (born 24 April 1969) is the Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Banff and Buchan.

She sits on the Scottish Affairs Select Committee and is the SNP's Westminster Spokesperson for Social Justice, Work and Pensions.^[3] In the 2010-15 Parliament she was the SNP's spokesperson for Fishing, Food and Rural Affairs, and International Development.

How many people know that 112 is the Emergency Number in Europe? Well you know now. 

112 BY THE NUMBERS:

2016: “only 48 percent of EU citizens know that 112 is the emergency number to call”
2015: “In 2014, Member States made no progress”
2014: “half unaware they can call 112 in emergencies in all EU countries”
2013: “51 percent of all EU citizens say that they would call 112”
2011: “The progress at EU level has been minimal in recent years (from 22 percent in 2008 to 26 percent in 2011)”
2010: “just a quarter (25 percent) of EU citizens questioned could spontaneously identify 112 as the number to call emergency services anywhere in the EU
2009: “24 percent in 2009”

Plaid Cymru unveils plans for ‘Learning Bonds’ for students who work in Wales

The Party would write-off tuition fee debt to attract brightest and best

Students from Wales who decide to work in Wales after graduation will benefit from tuition fee debt-write-off of up to £6,000 a year under plans unveiled by Plaid Cymru today.

Simon Thomas said that under Plaid Cymru’s Learning Bond, students would benefit from debt relief and the Welsh economy would benefit from attracting skilled workers into the labour market.

The policy features as part of Plaid Cymru’s plans for a “Cradle to Career” package of education policies.

Plaid Cymru Shadow Education Minister Simon Thomas said:

“Plaid Cymru will pay off £6,000 of the tuition fee loans for each student from Wales that returns to Wales to work after graduation.

“The Party of Wales wants everyone to be able to study any subject and in any university they want to. But the current tuition fee policy means we give more money to universities outside of Wales than we do inside of Wales. This is unsustainable and Plaid Cymru believes that this is wrong. Our plans will enable students from Wales to study anywhere they want, and will ensure that the Welsh economy can benefit from the talent of Welsh students.

“Under Plaid Cymru’s plans, students from Wales who study a three-year degree will have £18,000 of their loans written off.

“We will work with the business community to create 50,000 new apprenticeships, so that we can make sure that people can learn the skills our economy needs, and respond to the demands of industry.

“Plaid Cymru will offer a package of education, skills and training for people from cradle to career. We will work to help children’s attainment from their early years education, raise attainment by helping teachers be the best they can be, and by opening doors for students to study anywhere they want to.”

And for our Welsh followers:

Plaid yn datgelu cynlluniau am ‘Fondiau Dysgu’ i fyfyrwyr sy’n gweithio yng Nghymru

Byddai’r Blaid yn hepgor dyledion ffioedd dysgu i ddenu’r myfyrwyr gorau a mwyaf disglair

Bydd myfyrwyr o Gymru sy’n penderfynu gweithio yn y wlad wedi graddio yn elwa o hepgor dyled ffioedd dysgu o hyd at £6,000 y flwyddyn dan gynlluniau a ddatgelwyd gan Blaid Cymru heddiw.

Dywedodd Simon Thomas, dan Fond Dysgu Plaid Cymru, y byddai myfyrwyr ar eu hennill o ryddhad o ddyled ac y byddai economi Cymru yn elwa o ddenu gweithwyr gyda sgiliau i’r farchnad lafur.

Mae’r polisi yn rhan o gynlluniau Plaid Cymru am becyn addysg “O’r Crud i’r Yrfa”.

Dywedodd Gweiniodg Addysg cysgodol Plaid Cymru Simon:

“Bydd Plaid Cymru yn talu £6,000 o fenthyciad ffioedd dysgu pob myfyriwr o Gymru sy’n dychwelyd i Gymru i weithio ar ôl graddio.

“Mae Plaid Cymru eisiau i bawb allu astudio unrhyw bwnc ac yn unrhyw brifysgol a fynnant. Ond mae’r polisi presennol ar ffioedd dysgu yn golygu ein bod yn rhoi mwy o arian i brifysgolion y tu allan i Gymru nac i rai yng Nghymru ei hun. Nid yw hyn yn gynaliadwy,  a chred Plaid Cymru nad yw’n iawn. Bydd ein cynlluniau ni yn galluogi myfyrwyr o Gymru i astudio yn unrhyyw le y mynnant, a bydd yn sicrhau y gall economi Cymru elwa o ddoniau myfyrwyr Cymru.

“Dan gynlluniau Plaid Cymru, bydd myfyrwyr o Gymru sy’n astudio am radd am dair blynedd yn cael hepgor £18,000 o’u benthyciad.

“Byddwn yn gweithio gyda’r gymuned fusnes i greu 50,000 o brentisiaethau newydd, fel y gallwn fod yn sicr y gall pobl ddysgu’r sgiliau mae ar ein heconomi eu hangen, ac ymateb i alwadau diwydiant.

“Bydd Plaid Cymru yn cynnig pecyn o addysg, sgiliau a hyfforddiant i bobl o’r crud i’w gyrfa. Byddwn yn gweithio i helpu cyrhaeddiad plant o’u haddysg gynnar ymlaen, yn codi cyrhaeddiad trwy helpu athrawon i wneud eu gorau glas, a thrwy agor drysau i fyfyrwyr astudio lle mynnant.”

In response to a question from Clare Adamson MSP, the First Minister has said she is “deeply concerned” about the impact Tory housing benefit cuts will have on people in refuges and supported accommodation. This includes older people, disabled people, women who have suffered domestic abuse and care leavers.

The UK Government plan to reduce social sector housing benefit rates to that of Local Housing Allowance – a rate that is far lower than the cost of rent and service charges that is needed to provide refuge and supported accommodation. 

The First Minister has said “this will have a catastrophic impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our society” and confirmed that the Social Justice Secretary has written to the UK Government to express “grave concerns” about the changes.

Commenting Ms Adamson said:

“As the First Minister has stated, this cut in housing support will be catastrophic for people living in refuges and supported accommodation, including women affected by domestic abuse, disabled people and people who are homeless.

“There is now real uncertainty about the future provision of refuges and other forms of supported accommodation in Scotland and tenants and landlords need reassurance and to be able to make future plans. Scottish Women’s Aid have warned that these changes could mean that women would be effectively prevented’ from leaving an abusive partner

“The SNP is committed to fighting this unfair and damaging cut to support for the most vulnerable people in our society – the UK Government must exempt all supported housing from this cut now.”

Clare Anne Adamson MSP (born 1 August 1967) has represented the Scottish National Party at Holyrood as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland since 2011.

New DWP postal addresses. The  DWP is modernising how it receives and processes post by gradually transforming the department’s paper led system to a modern, digital solution. This transformation has resulted in changes to office postal addresses and new details are provided to ensure that any correspondence is correctly addressed.

Below is an up todate list of DWP mail handling sites. We get regular calls from confused claimants so this list is well worth keeping to hand 

Please download if required:

The SNP has described the Tory government’s housing policies as a “further drain” on social housing stock – in complete contrast to the Scottish Government’s approach north of the border.

A report published today (Wednesday) by the Communities and Local Government committee disagrees with the UK government’s proposals to fund the Right to Buy scheme with the proceeds from the sale of high value council homes.

 The committee report also raises concerns that the UK government’s housing policies could have a “detrimental effect” on the provision of affordable housing and that the provision of social housing in rural areas needs to be addressed in order to protect rural communities.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP, who is a member of the Communities and Local Government committee, said:

“The SNP wants everyone to have a safe, warm and affordable home – it is a fundamental to our wellbeing and also central to how Scotland can become a fairer and more prosperous country.

“By scrapping the Right to Buy scheme, the SNP in Government will ensure that 15,500 homes will remain in the social sector over the next decade which is in sharp contrast to the Tories proposals to sell off thousands more social homes – further draining the social housing stock in England.

 “The Scottish Government is on track to meet its housing targets with 30,000 affordable homes built by March 2016, with 20,000 of those for social rent.  If the SNP are re-elected next May, the target will be even higher with at least 50,000 new affordable homes built in the next parliament, a commitment worth more than £3 billion.”