Paul Clark MP ECONOMY REPORT
More expert help for you in Gillingham and Rainham •
Regular ‘Credit Crunch Surgeries’ launched to offer practical, expert advice
When managing your finances or finding a job gets tough, you want to know that there is expert help on hand. That’s why I’ve launched my new Credit Crunch Surgeries across Gillingham and Rainham, to offer you practical advice over the year ahead. Working with experts from Citizens Advice Bureau, Jobcentre Plus, and my own team, every month I open my doors to anyone and everyone who needs advice about keeping their finances on track, help getting a job, or support with their housing situation. This is in addition to my regular weekly surgeries, which continue as normal. So if you want to come along to one of the surgeries, look out in the local papers for times and dates; give my offices a call; or check the website at paulclarkmp.com for more information.
There’s more inside >>>>>>
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Spring 2009 Update Dear Constituent, My undivided attention over the year ahead is the economy, and what I can do to support you through the economic downturn. This is the second in my series of Economy Reports. The Reports are designed to keep you up-todate with what I’m doing to support you locally during the financial downturn. Best wishes
Five steps taken to help you at the start of 2009 What the Government is doing to stabilise the economy Your questions on the economy answered Plans for a Medway Business Summit this Spring How you can use my new website to get in touch
More information always available online at Paul’s website paulclarkmp.com
Paul Clark MP
USEFUL CONTACTS Here’s a list of useful contacts for you to keep. If you want to contact me, I look forward to hearing from you!
Five key steps to support the economy in 2009 •
National action that will help us locally in Gillingham and Rainham
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A package of measures aimed at freeing up lending of more than £2bn for the automotive industry
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An investment programme of £40 billion across the UK in 2009
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Giving every pensioner an extra £60 in at the start of this year to help with the daily cost of living
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Increasing child benefit to £20 a week in January 2009 instead of April 2009, providing extra support
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Creating as many as 100,000 new jobs in the UK to act as a counter to the economic downturn
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LOCAL COUNCIL
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CONTACT ME Call the office on 01634 574261 Email me at clarkp@parliament.uk Write to me at 62a Watling Street, Gillingham, ME7 2YN Or visit my website for more information at paulclarkmp.com available all the time
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Working together to support the economy We are facing, perhaps for the first time, a truly global financial crisis. This isn’t a time to sit back and ride out the storm, but instead to put in place a whole range of measures to support Britain’s economy. But we can’t do this alone. We need to make sure that we work together with other countries to get through the global downturn. That’s why I’m delighted that the UK is this year’s host country for the G20 summit, which brings to London 20 of the world’s biggest economies, including the United States and new US President Barack Obama. To make comments on Paul’s column , visit his blog at paulclarkmp.com
2009 Economy: Q&A •
Paul Clark MP
My responses to your questions on the economy
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Alice (Rainham) said: I own a small business in Medway. I would like to see a central point for small businesses to go to for help and advice. Also, I see the Government bailing out banks and the car industry, but what is available for smaller businesses like mine? My reply: Small businesses remain the foundation of the economy, especially in towns like ours. The Government has set up Business Link to support small businesses and more information can be found at businesslink.gov.uk. Plus, many businesses can now get a Government ‘health check’, extra time to pay tax bills, and extra funding for training
Michael (Gillingham) said: I have recently been made redundant and I am considering retraining. Is there any more information you can give me about the support on offer for people to retrain? I have heard a lot about apprenticeships but I’ve no idea where to begin looking. My reply: Yes, there is support on offer. You can now do apprenticeships in a wide range of new areas, covering more than 180 different careers and about 80 industry sectors. They are open to women and men and to younger and older workers, and you can apply whether or not you are already in employment. Contact the Apprenticeships Service, www.apprenticeships.org.uk, 0800 015 0600.
Questions? Concerns? Comments? Email Paul at clarkp@parliament.uk if you have any questions about any issue in Gillingham, Rainham, or Westminster
I’M ONLINE I have my own website paulclarkmp.com where you can: • •
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Get updates on my work Watch my MPTV videos Take part in regular surveys Email me And much more
Find out more about my website on the back page of this newsletter! >>>>>>>>>
Helping you keep your home Extra support on offer to help homeowners in Gillingham and Rainham To make sure that you don’t lose your home if you can’t keep up mortgage repayments, additional support for homeowners will be available over the next few months. In addition, new rules that were introduced at the end of last year mean that repossession is an absolute last resort. The Government has managed to get lenders to agree to look at all possible options to prevent it. You may also be eligible for the Mortgage Rescue Scheme. Steps to take if you’re having problems meeting your mortgage repayments:
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Look into the Mortgage Rescue Scheme If you rent, ask Medway Council if you are eligible for housing benefit Call my office or come to one of my advice surgeries More information is available on my website, paulclarkmp.com
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