Over 27,000 North West people facing benefit cut

27,105 jobless people in the North West could be plunged into poverty, debt and even forced out of their own homes according to leading campaign group the National Housing Federation.

As part of the Government's radical overhaul of the benefits' system, people who claim jobseeker's allowance for 12 months will have their housing benefit automatically cut by 10% - leaving unemployed households to make up the shortfall in their rent. This would affect over 27,000 people across the North West.

In some of the most deprived areas of the North there are 45 jobseekers allowance claimants for every job vacancy - meaning the chances of finding work locally after a year is remote. Across the North West there are 173,006 claimants in total yet only 35,959 vacancies. Claimants will be penalised regardless of the state of the local jobs market and how hard they have tried to find work.

North West Top Ten

Across England more than 130,000 hard up households will suffer an average annual cut of £475 from their housing benefit payments if they are out of work for more than a year - despite the fact that claimants will have already proved that they have been actively looking for a job throughout that period, the Federation warned.

The University of York, in a report commissioned by the Federation, estimates 133,000 unemployed households in England will be affected by the cut. The figures are released ahead of the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill, which will set out how the government plans to significantly reduce the country's overall benefits' bill.

And with the Government looking to move large numbers of people from incapacity benefit onto jobseeker's allowance as part of its drive to cut the country's benefits' bill - the number of people who will be forced to pay the penalty is likely to be far higher than 130,000.

Across the country the average current weekly housing benefit payment for someone also claiming jobseeker's allowance is £91.35. But under the measure, which is due to be introduced in April 2013, those people would have to find an extra £9.14 to cover the shortfall. Over a year this would total an average of £475. The Federation estimates that a single claimant aged 25 or over would be left with just £56.31 a week to pay for all their household bills, food and transport costs - if they were forced to make up the 10% shortfall in their rent. Those aged 16 - 24 would be left with £42.71 a week if they have to make up 10% of their rent.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes has publicly criticised the policy and led a backbench revolt against the plan when he voted against introducing the 10% cut following a Commons debate last year. Despite losing the vote, there remains significant opposition to the proposal from Liberal Democrat MPs who remain optimistic that it could still be ditched.

Sallie Bridgen, National Housing Federation North West Regional Manager said:- "The North West has already been hit hard by Government efforts to reduce the deficit. Cutting housing allowances for people who fail to find work will penalise the poor and vulnerable when there simply aren't enough jobs to go round.

The current system allows for cuts to be made to job seeker's allowance for those who refuse to work. To reduce the housing allowance for those out of work means punishing people for failing to find a job in a very difficult job market.

The proposal is unfair, unjust and will heap further misery onto households already under huge financial pressure. People should be encouraged into work, but threatening the homes of those who are unemployed isn't the right way to go about it."

JLA gets its first flights to Madeira

THE Largest Independent Specialist Tour Operator to the Portuguese Island of Madeira is to operate two flights this year direct from Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) for the first time. The departures on 16 May and 24 October 2011, will give travelers in the region the chance to sample the delights of Madeira, renowned for giving visitors a unique and unforgettable holiday experience.  The archipelago of Madeira is located about 350 miles from the northwest coast of Africa and 520 miles southwest of Portugal itself. It is of volcanic origin but unlike the other islands in the group which are barren, Madeira is lush and verdant, boasting an exceptionally temperate climate and rich agricultural resources.  The many historical monuments, squares and streets in the capital of Funchal and the enchanting gardens, picturesque villages, amazing landscapes, impressive volcanic caves, rugged coast lines and beautiful natural beaches make Madeira well worth a visit.

Nick Smillie, Sales Director for Peel Airports said:- “We are sure that lots of passengers from across the region will want to take advantage of this opportunity to travel direct from JLA to Madeira. We expect these flights to prove popular and hope that it will encourage Atlantic Airways to operate even more services from here next year. Madeira is a beautiful island with botanical gardens and a wealth of high quality hotels.”

Dino Toouli Sales & Marketing Manager at Atlantic Holidays said:- “We are delighted to add Liverpool John Lennon Airport to our portfolio and we are confident that Madeira will prove extremely popular to those living in the catchment area. We will exclusively be re positioning a Monarch Airlines A320 aircraft to operate this flight solely for Atlantic Holidays”

Holidays can be booked with Atlantic Holidays on:- 01452 381 888, via their web site at:- atlanticholidays.net/lpl or through a local travel agent.

Love in every language!

IN the run up to Valentine’s Day, Liverpool is celebrating ‘love in every language!’  People of all nationalities will be attending an evening of international love poetry on Friday, 11 February 2011 at St. Francis of Assisi Academy in Kensington.

Local residents from countries including Poland, Hungary, Somalia, Nigeria and Romania will be among those presenting a romantic poem or song, which will be translated into English. 

In between the prose there will be music from Stan Ambrose who will be playing the harp, as well as other musicians.

Lord Mayor Hazel Williams and Wavertree MP Luciana Berger will be among those at the event, which takes place from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Academy on Gardner’s Drive.  It has been organised by Merseyside Polonia - a group which aims to bring better understanding between different communities.

Gosia McKane from Merseyside Polonia said:- “The Kensington area has become increasingly diverse in recent years with people from many different countries making it their home.  This event is a chance for people to come along and meet their neighbours and find out more about the wide range of different cultures in the area.”

Admission is free, and drinks and cakes will be served.

MISSING FROM HOME - ON BEHALF OF WEST MERCIA

WEST Mercia Police Officers based in Telford have repeated their appeal for information as they attempt to trace a woman who has gone missing from Stirchley. Pamela Florence Simpson is aged 53 and she has not been seen by her family since her husband dropped her off in Wellington at 9am on Wednesday, 2 February 2011. There has been two confirmed sightings of Pamela at ‘Cashino’ (formerly known as Shipley’s) in Wellington since then – the last being in the Market Street premises at 6pm on the Wednesday, but as of yet police have been unable to trace Pamela to speak to her directly and carry out a safe and well check. A police spokesman said:- "We are very keen to find Pamela because her disappearance is most out of character. There are concerns about her state of mind and therefore we are keen to trace her whereabouts as soon as we can. We believe it is vital that we track her down quickly because she has no money and no change of clothes with her. Pamela – or Pam as she is known - is described as being white, around 5ft 4inches tall, with a medium build and as having short, curly, dark grey hair. When she went missing she was wearing a grey and white jacket, a black jumper, blue jeans and white sandals. Anyone who believes they may have information that could help trace Pamela, or who may have seen her during the past few days, is asked to contact West Mercia Police on:- 0300 333 3000. Alternatively, please remember that Crimestoppers can also be called anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you have information you’d like to pass on without identifying yourself.”