To celebrate the launch of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, local MP, John Robertson has joined forces with actress Lynda Bellingham, to recognise the contribution that carers in Glasgow North West make on a daily basis.

In a photocall in Westminster, Mr Robertson, pledged his support to the 60,000 carers across Glasgow, and half a million in Scotland, as part of the national awareness campaign, Carers Week. The week is an opportunity to celebrate the 6.5 million carers across the UK and raise awareness of the impact that caring has on people’s lives.

In 2013 Carers Week will be focusing on whether the nation is Prepared to Care? The campaign will highlight how the UK’s current carer population is coping, how effectively government is supporting the growing numbers of carers, and whether the wider population is prepared for future caring responsibilities.

As part of Carers Week, a number of events will be held in and around Glasgow, to help carers access support and advice. Carers can find out what’s going on at www.carersweek.org.

Local MP, John Robertson, said: “Every day across Glasgow North West 1 in 8 people will care for a loved one in some form. This hidden group of people give up their time, sometimes their jobs and often make life changing sacrifices to care for someone.

“Carers save this country an incredible £119 billion every year. That’s why I believe as a society we must be Prepared to Care for our carers.”

Actress and former carer, Lynda Bellingham, said:  “My sister and I cared for our mother when she had Alzheimer’s and so I know first-hand the impact that caring can have on someone’s life. That’s why I’m supporting Carers Week because I believe it’s vital that help is made available, especially when you consider that every day 6,000 new people will take on a caring role for a loved one. Carers in this country do a fantastic job and we must come together to support them.”

“It’s fantastic to see MPs pledge their support for Carers Week and carers in the UK. Events like this ensure that carers stay at the top of the political agenda and it’s also an opportunity to remind MPs and decision makers of the overwhelming contribution that carers make.”

Helen Clarke, Carers Week Manager, commented: “It’s fantastic to see MPs taking a stand for carers. Carers form the backbone of our society and that’s why Carers Week is so incredibly important to not only recognise their contribution, but ensure they get the help and support they need.”

Carers Week is delivered by a partnership of national charities – Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK and supported by the Stroke Association and Bupa’s Carewell. In 2013 it is sponsored by Sainsbury’s Plc and the sector skills council in England Skills for Care.

Keep up to date with Carers Week and events happening in Glasgow at

www.carersweek.org    www.facebook.com/carersweek             Twitter @carersweek

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Scotland’s leading anti-sectarianism charity has taken its battle to banish bigotry to Westminster.

Nil by Mouth teamed up with John Robertson MP to promote its work at a special event at the House of Commons.

NBM was founded by Glasgow teenager Cara Henderson after the brutal sectarian murder of her friend, Mark Scott, in 1995. Since then it has campaigned tirelessly against sectarianism both on, and off, the terraces.

The charity currently offers dedicated sectarian awareness workshops in schools and colleges through its ‘Champions for Change’ scheme and workplaces and youth groups through ‘Beyond Religion and Belief’ projects.

Beyond Religion and Belief, which is delivered, free of charge, has been developed and piloted in partnership the STUC and several public and private sector employers. The package provides organisations with a framework to address sectarianism in the workplace and includes advice on policy and procedure, awareness raising workshops and a Management module.

John Robertson MP said:

“This was an important event as it gave MPs and peers the opportunity to find out how they could become more involved on anti-sectarianism work.

I was particularly interested to learn about Nil by Mouth’s ’Beyond Religion and Belief’ project and pleased to learn that a number of employers in my constituency have become involved. I also understand that some excellent work has been undertaken in the Knightswood area by Garscadden and St. Brendan’s Primary Schools.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that only a third of arrests for sectarian behaviour are related to football. This problem seeps right across our society and that’s what makes NBM’s work in schools and workplaces all the more important.

Sectarianism is a serious problem for Scotland but not an insurmountable one and this can be the generation which defeats it once and for all.’

Nil by Mouth Campaign Director, Dave Scott, said:

“We are extremely grateful to John Robertson MP’s support for our campaign.   Arrests for sectarianism rose by 30% last year and worryingly 60% of those charged were under the age of 30. We must break this cycle of bigotry.

Everyone has a part to play in riding Scotland of sectarianism and we have been working with a number of youth groups, schools and colleges in the. All NBM services are free of charge and we are very keen to deepen our work with groups in the Glasgow North West area.”

For more information about Nil by Mouth, visit the website.

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This week: Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty inquiry; Prorogation; and Rock the House Scotland

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Accounting and profit announcements of the Big Six are a “con”, designed to justify price rises, Labour MP accuses in Energy select committee.

The committee questioned four of the Big Six energy companies this morning about their accounting practices and the impact on customers. John Robertson MP focussed on the difference between the profits announced to shareholders, which run into the hundreds of millions, and the regular price rises. He asked why the companies couldn’t use some of the profits made to stop price rises.

With others on the committee, he criticised the fact that companies announce profits of the whole business, including the retail side and generation side, to shareholders. But when rising prices, they claim only small profits, through speaking only of the retail side.

The Glasgow MP said to energy chief executives: “It’s a con, is it not?… Exploitation is of the general public if you ask me. Never mind the oil fields.”

After the committee he said: “I was totally unconvinced by the chief executives of the biggest energy firms. They were incapable of justifying their hokey cokey accounting decisions. Quite simply, if they can afford to pay out millions of pounds to shareholders, they can afford to stop obscene price rises.”

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The Energy select committee will question energy companies next week and MPs are asking the public what they want asking.

The select committee is asking for people across the country to pose their own questions to the energy companies through Twitter, using the hashtag #AskEnergyFirms. The deadline for submitting questions is midnight on Thursday 11^th April.

The session in Parliament follows from the successful launch of the inquiry ‘Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty’ in Anniesland, Glasgow. Local Energy committee member, John Robertson MP, brought the committee to his home town, where members of the public and local organisations had their say on the state of the energy market.

Mr Robertson said: “Understandably, when we were in Anniesland College, most of the questions people wanted answering were about rising prices. I think the obscene profits, coupled with rising prices, is disgusting – and I certainly have some questions of my own to ask. But this is the chance for people across the country to have their say.”

The select committee will questions senior figures from a number of energy companies on Tuesday 16^th April.

For more information, see here.

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John Robertson MP with Usdaw member, Janette Parker

Local MP, John Robertson, has joined forces with Usdaw, the shop workers union, to call on the Coalition Government to stop squeezing family incomes by continuing to cut the help they get through tax credits and other benefits.

Just days before the Budget, at a time when many hard working families are already concerned about how difficult it is to manage their finances, Usdaw arranged to take some of their members, who are being hit the hardest by the Government’s shake up of the welfare state to Parliament, to meet MPs.

John Hannett, General Secretary of Usdaw said, “Since coming to power the Coalition Government’s austerity measures have already taken hundreds of pounds out of the pockets of hard working families.

“Our members tell us, that despite working hard, it is getting more and more difficult to pay the bills, put food on the table and clothe their children”

“We are concerned that things are only going to get worse – as the Government’s flawed bedroom tax comes into force and further changes to tax credits later this year, hit almost 3 million families who will lose on average – £137 each month.”

“Next week’s Budget is the Government’s chance to prove that it cares about children and families. It is time for this Government to do a U turn – stop cutting family incomes and start to support hard working families.”

Glasgow MP John Robertson said, “I was pleased to join members of Usdaw at their recent event at the House of Commons. Trade unions like Usdaw have an important job to do – speaking up for their members”

“More than one in every four children are already growing up in poverty and of those children 62%, has at least one person in their home who is employed.”

Families in Glasgow North West and around the country are getting squeezed tighter and tighter – it’s time for the Coalition Government to stop cutting and start listening to hard pressed families.”

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With Universal Credit claims being online only, cross-party group of MPs calls for internet strategy to make sure no one will be missed.

Around one quarter of job seekers have broadband at home and will have to rely on internet access points in job centres or libraries to claim their allowance once Universal Credit comes in. John Robertson MP, Chair of the Communications group, is leading the call, concerned that this will make it more difficult for people who live far away from internet access points, or who do not have the skills to surf online.

Disabled people and elderly people are also disadvantaged, with 53% of people who have never used the internet having a disability, and 90% of those who have used the internet being under 65. While these people may not need to rely on the internet for welfare, Mr Robertson highlights how better deals on energy or other necessities can be found by the internet savvy.

The Glasgow MP said: “We have the highest internet usage in Europe, but still some of the most vulnerable groups are getting left behind. And what is sad, is that these people could gain the most from using it at home – through being able to claim their benefits much more easily or even getting cheaper energy bills.”

“Worryingly, the Government has started to move everything online – with Universal Credit being a major example – but it hasn’t even done an assessment of where people can access the internet in libraries or whether people even know how to use the internet. We need an urgent strategy to make sure job seekers, disabled people and the elderly do not lose out.”

John Robertson has tabled an Early Day Motion, which can be found here.

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There are fewer than 25 days until April 6th – when 13,000 millionaires will get a £100,000 tax cut.

In David Cameron’s Britain, millions are paying more while millionaires get a tax cut.

Sign the petition here.

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To celebrate launch of the new style, open-plan branch, John Robertson MP ‘cut the ribbon’ at Dyke Road Post Office today, 8 March 2013.

John Robertson MP said: “I’m delighted to officially open the new Dyke Road Post Office.  I know how important post office services are to communities like Dyke Road and I am sure everyone will join me in congratulating the subpostmaster on his hard work. I wish Mr Burmy continued success with his business.”

Subpostmaster Mr Bhubinder Singh Burmy said: “The branch closed for a week to allow us to undertake the refurbishment. I am delighted with the new ‘main’ style branch and I am sure my customers will enjoy the additional hours being provided. I want to thank them for their patience during the improvement works.”

The new branch has three serving positions: a mixture of 2 screened with 1 Post Office serving point at the retail counter available during shop opening hours, including Sundays.

Post Office Regional Network Manager for Scotland and North England, Sue Richardson, Scotland, said: “We are confident that this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, that will see around 6000 branches (about half the Post Office network) converting to new-style branches.”

The Post Office, now independent of Royal Mail, is the largest retail network in the UK, with over 11,500 branches. It is also one of the fastest growing financial services companies and is developing its online and telephony services.

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This week: Energy Bill amendment, Hunterston visit and British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly

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