Westminster this week

Today there are questions to the Attorney General and the Deputy Prime Minister - I plan to try and be called at both, albeit I do not have a named question.
Most important meeting this week is with the Payments Council CEO to discuss the new Current Account Switch Service in more detail, together with other Payments Council projects central to delivering competition in the banking sector. As usual, for most Wednesdays, there is an Opposition day debate, following after PMQs.

Lunch with Age UK in Corbridge

Just before Christmas I met with Age UK, and attended a lunch organised by them in Corbridge for local residents. This year, I have also spent time with NHS consultants, university experts in Ageing Well from Newcastle University, and various locals who are pretty robust in their views. The 5 basic rules for combatting old age are very clear:

- Don’t smoke
- Keep your weight down
- Exercise
- Eat healthily
- Don’t drink too much

Millions of pounds of government money is spent trying to persuade people to adopt these basic tenets of life – but the message does not seem to be getting through.

But almost as important is the need to keep your brain active. This was a message received loud and clear from the Dominos session I had before Age UK’s lunch. I got soundly thrashed at Dominos by all 3 of my teammates [particularly the wonderful Sybille in the picture to my right], who outwitted me with great smiles and a winning way with Dominos. All of those present were active, living healthily, eating well at an Age UK hot lunch; indeed, many had walked to the Village Hall. They were doing all they could to lead a healthy lifestyle, keeping the brain active and fighting old age. Full credit and thanks to Age UK for inviting me, organising a delicious lunch and being such a great presence in our community.

One final point: the harsh fact is that two-thirds of people with dementia live in the community but studies show that sometimes less than half say that they feel part of their community. People with dementia sometimes need a helping hand to go about their daily lives and feel included in their local community. Alzheimer’s Society wants one million people in England to have become a Dementia Friend by 2015. Dementia Friends gives people an understanding of dementia and the small things they can do that can make a difference to people living with dementia - from helping someone find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia.

So for 2014 make one of your resolutions this: make sure you reach out to those who are on their own or of advanced years and be a friend to them.

Update on the Council Tax Benefit Support Grant for Parish Councils

On the last Wednesday of the parliamentary term in the House of Commons I again raised the issue that is affecting many parish and town councils from Hexham and Ponteland downwards. Northumberland County Council are refusing to pass this government money on to the local councils, even though over 90% of other councils have done so. The question we have to ask is why? Other councils are doing this, including I might add plenty, of Labour councils.

Guy Opperman (Hexham):
"On 25 November, in the House, I raised the issue of the council tax benefit support grant, which is not being passed on to all the parish councils in Northumberland. On that occasion, my hon. Friend responded by saying that local authorities should be ensuring that that was done. Can he tell me whether he has made any further progress in forcing them to do so?"

Brandon Lewis MP, Minister Dept Communitioes and Local Government:
"It is true that a very small number of authorities are not yet passing on the grant, and we are telling them that they should. It is a matter for the authorities themselves, but we made it very clear in today’s written statement that they should be passing the money on to the parish councils."

The original question and answer is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-11-25a.9.5&s=%28council+tax+benefit+support+grant%29+speaker%3A24962#g10.0
The debate again featured discussion between north and south Local Authorities: the Minister made the point in Wednesday's debate by pointing out the real facts:
"Newcastle receives £2,400 per dwelling, which is about £900 more than areas such as Windsor and Maidenhead."
I will post more as we continue to persaude Northumberland County Council to pay the government money that is due our parish councils.