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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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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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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Energy companies that make “excessive profit” should be taxed by the energy regulator, say a group of Labour MPs.

The MPs want the Government’s Energy Bill to include the proposal, and they are calling for support on their amendment. The announcement comes just days after British Gas, which raised prices by 6% late last year, reported profits of £606 million. John Robertson and Jim Sheridan want to see Ofgem given full access to company accounts and then permission to fine any companies that are seen to be making excessive profits at the expense of the consumer.

Mr Robertson, who sits on the Energy select committee, hopes it will put a stop to cases like that of Iberdrola, the parent company of Scottish Power, which transferred £800m to the US, while raising prices in this country. He said: “The energy companies hold us to ransom and it is about time they started giving us a fair deal. I am convinced they hide their accounts in different pots so it looks as though they only make small profits. If there was a real threat that this sort of behaviour had a consequence, I don’t think we would see the sort of price rises we have been seeing over the last few years.”

Mr Sheridan spoke about how they would use the money to tackle fuel poverty. He said: “40% of the population is in fuel poverty or struggling to pay bills and this is due to Big Six greed. If they were seen to be exploiting their customers, then the fine should be used to help those who are suffering the most. It is about time they took responsibility for their decisions.”

The amendment can be found here.

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The figures revealed today have prompted calls for the banning of “predatory and infuriating” company cold calling.

John Robertson MP has been looking into the issue after having received a number of cold calls himself. He said: “Companies have been calling me up with their sales pitch – but when they find out I’m an MP they quickly backtrack. It would be funny if it wasn’t such predatory behaviour.”

Mr Robertson, who sits on the Energy and Climate Change committee, is particularly worried about vulnerable people being pushed into changing energy tariffs, for example, without having all the information in front of them. He said: “Many offers from companies are hard enough to understand as it is, without a hardlined salesperson pushing you to take it over the phone. Sadly, I think the most vulnerable people will find it difficult to deal with these types of people and may even end up paying more, thanks to these infuriating calls.”

“We also have no idea of the extent of this sales tactic – I find that very worrying.”

Over half of all landline numbers in the UK are currently registered with the Telephone Preference Service Ltd (TPSL), a service which allows customers to opt out of receiving unsolicited sales calls. With so many people opting out of the practice, the Labour MP for Glasgow North West is calling for it to be banned completely.

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Labour MP will bring in amendment to the Energy Bill to stop companies earning profits above inflation.

Concerns over energy profits have grown in recent months as the Big Six have all announced price rises of between 6% and 10% over recent months. Companies blame wholesale energy prices for rises and announce profits of 2%, but John Robertson MP, who sits on the energy committee, said accounts did not always show the true story. He said that money from the Government for investment into renewables is never printed and so profits could be much larger.

John Robertson MP said that the consumer was getting “an absolutely deplorable deal” and “we do not have that word trust attributed to the Big Six”.

The Energy Bill aims to tackle rising prices by providing stability in the energy markets, which will encourage investors to spend additional money. The Government has also expressed an interest in including an obligation in the Bill for companies to put all customers on the cheapest tariff.

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