Chuka Umunna MP

Business Link is helping businesses save time, increase their sales and raise profits and recent figures from a number of separate reports have attested to the difference which the government’s business advice site is making.

Developed in partnership with subject experts within government and relevant business-support organisations, the site provides free guidance for businesses on topics such as finding and keeping customers, making payments and helping organizations comply with legislation.

Huge numbers of business owners and budding entrepreneurs are turning to the service. The regional network of Business Link providers reached a staggering 942,000 customers in the 2008/2009 period and businesslink.gov.uk hosted more than 14 million visits.

The Minister for Regional Economic Development, Rosie Winterton MP said: “The recent surveys asked Business Link customers to provide feedback on the service and the impact it has had on their business.

“The figures clearly demonstrate the service is making a difference to their bottom line. Business Link is a vital resource for businesses, however big or small.”

According to the surveys businesses reported that due to information and guidance of the website they:

- Saved roughly 5.7 million hours – valued at approx £121m and made £158 million in cost savings.

- Increased their profits: additional sales of £360 million and an increase in profits of £54 million.

- Saved valuable time researching and gathering information – an average of 17 hours per customer.

Acumen Business Law is one of the businesses which has took advantage of the Business Link. Penina Shaw, a commercial lawyer with the firm said:

“At first, I was a little sceptical, Acumen Business Law was already a successful business and I couldn’t see what value Business Link could add. As a result of meeting them, we made several significant changes, and put fundamental systems in place to measure financial success.

“We recommend that all our clients use Business Link. It can save a lot of time and money, and provides a trustworthy service completely free of charge.”

Business Link ambassadors include: Karen Hanton (Toptable.com) Karen Darby (Call Britannia) John Bird (Big Issue) and Claire Young (former Apprentice finalist)

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has today urged vulnerable local families not to worry about turning up the heat as the Government pays out millions in Cold Weather Payments.

Around £200 million in payments has been racked up so far this winter, with just over £70 million of this over the cold New Year’s weekend.

Mr Umunna said: “As the cold weather continues, I don’t want vulnerable people in Streatham left in the cold. I especially want the elderly to know that extra help is on the way.

“There are two ways we are helping this winter – with Winter Fuel payments of £250 or £400 for the over 80s, and thousands of people in our area getting the increased Cold Weather Payments of £25.

“The payments are automatic so everyone entitled will get them and should not worry about turning up their heating.”

Nine new weather stations were introduced this year in a bid to provide a more accurate assessment for those affected.

Payments were triggered in London on 4th January, meaning more than half a million people will benefit from payments totalling over £13 million.

As well as the Cold Weather payments, over 12.3 million older people will benefit from Winter Fuel payments, totalling about £2.7bn. This compares to the less than £60m a year spent by the Tories in 1997.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has put the case for extending the tube to Streatham in his submission to TfL’s transport strategy consultation and is calling on local residents to join him.

People who want to back the campaign to bring the London Underground to Streatham should ensure they submit their responses before the consultation closes on Tuesday 12th January.

In his submission he outlined the benefits a tube extension would bring for local residents and businesses and the fact that there have been many previous plans to bring the London Underground to the area, none of which have come to fruition.

The tube would improve the area’s connections with central London, making life easier for commuters or people returning home after a night out whilst local shops and businesses would benefit from a boost in the number of potential customers coming to the area.

Linking Streatham into the tube network would help also relieve congestion on Streatham High Road, as well as the busy Victoria and Northern lines.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy, published in October, recognised the lack of tube connections in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

In September, TfL (Transport for London) confirmed that it is currently looking into a range of options to extend the Bakerloo line into South London, one of which could see the line come to Streatham.
Mr Umunna said:

“A tube stop is Streatham would massively improve local transport whilst bringing many knock-on benefits to our area.

“Having talked to people on the doorstep, it is also something which local residents are clearly in favour of.

“It is important that we keep up the pressure on the Mayor and TfL and make the case for bringing the London Underground here.”

People can register their views with TfL at http://mts.tfl.gov.uk/Have-your-say.aspx and sign the Bring the Tube to Streatham Petition at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html

The consultation process which followed the release of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy is closing next week.

People who want to put their views to the Mayor and back the campaign to bring the London Underground to Streatham should ensure they submit their responses before the consultation closes on Tuesday 12th January.

Responses can be made by filling in an online form or via email attachment.

To register your views, follow this link.

Chuka has made a submission to the consultation outlining the benefits a tube extension would bring for local residents and businesses, and the fact that many previous plans to bring the London Underground to the area have failed to come to fruition.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which was published in October, confirmed that Transport for London (TfL) is looking into a range of options for extending the Bakerloo line into South London.

It also identified the current shortcomings of the transport system in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network in South London” and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

Sign the Bring the Tube to Streatham petition here.

To find out more about the campaign, follow this link

Lambeth has been awarded £9 million by Schools Minister Vernon Coaker MP to help expand the number of primary school places in the borough to help meet growing demand for places.

The additional school places are being funded as part of £300m of new investment from the government, helping local authorities which are under pressure from increases in pupil numbers.

This means that the council can create a planned total of 300 new reception class places across Lambeth over the next three years.

Councillor Paul McGlone, Lambeth Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “Our hard work in getting the best possible deal for Lambeth’s children has paid off.

“This is a fantastic result, and the next step is to talk to our schools and local parents to make sure we provide school places and new schools in the areas where they are needed most.”

In the short term, the council has added temporary classes at schools to provide additional places in some of the most popular local schools. In Streatham this year extra classes have been added at Jubilee, Hitherfield, Crown Lane and Immanuel & St Andrew’s primary schools.

Additionally in Streatham from September 2010 further reception classes will be provided at Immanuel & St Andrew’s school. Lambeth Council’s cabinet has approved plans for permanent expansions, including ten more forms of entry by 2012.

Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, said:

“We’ve listened carefully to concerns from some local authorities, particularly in London, facing specific issues around rising demand for reception-age pupils over the next few years.

“Overall, more than 4,000 primary and secondary schools, at an average of 25 a week will have been built, rebuilt or refurbished by July 2010 since 1997 – the biggest sustained period of school building for decades.

“Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is the biggest single government investment in improving school buildings for over 50 years, rebuilding or renewing every secondary school in England. BSF is
expected to improve the life chances of 3.3 million young people.”

From today (Saturday January 2nd) passengers will be able to use Oystercards for pay as you go journeys on all trains in London – now including National Rail services.

Passengers who use stations including Streatham, Streatham Hill, Streatham Common, Brixton and Tulse Hill will benefit from the change and will now be able to travel seamlessly around London, on the bus, tube, train and river using their Oystercard.

The Oystercard extension has been arranged and funded by the government and Transport for London, with neighbouring Labour MP for Tooting and Minister for Transport Sadiq Khan having campaigned on the issue.

Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport said “If we are to encourage more people on to public transport we must make it as easy and convenient to use as possible. That is exactly what Oyster has done in London and why extending pay as you go to rail services is so important.”

Last month marked the fifth anniversary of the hunting ban, passed in order to put an end to the cruel and degrading treatment inflicted upon foxes through hunting with dogs.

This act was passed through the commitment of campaigners, the League against Cruel Sports, the RSPCA and the support of the general public, and has proven its success, achieving 56 convictions thus far.

Although it was often suggested that individuals from rural communities would prefer to continue to allow hunting with dogs to take place, a recent IPSOS Mori poll has shown that 72% of those polled in rural areas would not be in favour of the ban being repealed.

David Cameron has stated that he would offer a free vote on the issue of repealing the act to MPs, and furthermore, that repealing it would be a priority if the Conservatives were to be successful at the next general election.

Nick Herbert, Tory Shadow Defra Secretary has suggested a future Tory Government would repeal the act. The fact that the Tories are keen to repeal an act that was shown by a recent IPSOS Mori poll to have the backing of 76% of UK citizens shows that they are more interested in pleasing the small few who, like David Cameron, have a history of participating in this cruel and degrading sport.

In a recent statement, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs responded to Tory calls to repeal the hunting ban by stating that: “If you think the Tories have changed, this makes it absolutely clear that their priorities haven’t. They know the public doesn’t agree with them on this, but they are determined to go ahead if they are given the chance. That’s why we need to continue to campaign to stop this barbaric ‘sport’ from returning to our land.

The Hunting Ban is a great Labour achievement and receives Chuka’s full support. Commenting, he said:

“The hunting ban is something which many people locally feel strongly about, and we must not allow a return of this cruel practice.

“The Conservatives have made it clear that bringing back hunting is something they prioritise.

“I will campaign strongly against any attempt to overturn the hunting ban. People who support the ban should join me in signing the online petition at http://www.backtheban.com.”

For further details on the campaign to keep the hunting ban in place visit http://www/keepcrueltyhistory.com