Prosperity and Work

Report of Northampton South Policy Forum on "Prosperity and Work" 1. We welcomed the policy paper and recognised in it much that has been done by the Labour Government over the last ten years. 2. We welcomed a number of the policy directions and particularly the commitment to continue to reduce both absolute and relative poverty in Britain. 3. Government attitudes towards Business have helped secure steady growth across the economy to the benefit of all. We recognise the need to reform planning laws but felt there were already significant weaknesses in the system allowing planning bodies to act without real accountability for their actions. We sighted examples from the WNDC which had engaged in consultation, but then ignored the views expressed to the extent that many parts of the community felt alienated from the planning process and frustrated that plans were not moving forward which were as good as they might be for lack of local expertise and knowledge. 4. We welcomed the moved towards providing Flexible Working opportunities for all, recognising the benefits these have already brought to many working families, particularly working women. However, despite the Governments welcome provision or free Nursery places for every three and four year old, the extension of Child Care provision, Sure Start and wrap-around childcare, many still find it difficult to "join the dots" since these programmes are often not all available in the one place, requiring working parents to have to make special arrangements to take their child from one environment to another. E.g. from Child Care to Nursery and back again. Local and national government need to work more closely with parents to ensure that the provision already developed meets the needs of working families. 5. The recognition of the contribution made by carers is most welcome and their entitlement to flexible working can be very beneficial. However, the language in this and other sections of the policy papers could be strengthened by reference to Human Rights Law. We all have a right to Family and to a Private Life, this applies to carers, the elderly and many other groups marginalised by our society. To ensure everyone has access to these rights we need to adopt the policies outlined in this paper. We should be working to establish these conditions as rights which all citizens should expect from their Government, regardless of the political party in power. In bringing these policies into practice the Labour Party is defending the Rights of the individual to a fulfilling family and private life, to dignity and respect. We should also be celebrating the fact that we now have more elderly citizens than ever before. This is yet another sign of the success of our National Health Service, another right (to health) brought to fruition by Labour. Placing Labour as the party with defends and promotes the rights of the citizen is one we would recommend. 6. We are pleased that this document recognises the need for "strong and modern growing trade unions as a genuine voice fighting against discrimination and abuse". We are saddened that despite this recognition there is no suggestion of removing the draconian Thatcherite Trade Union Laws. However, we recognise that our Labour Government has actually put into law many of the policies our trades unions have fought for over many years. This should be more loudly acclaimed. We are concerned that Agencies tend towards abusive practice and current measures do not go far enough to tackle these abuses and remove them from the system. The poorest are worst hit with too many loopholes for employers to abuse. E.g. Holiday pay may well be identified by employers, yet temporary staff are still required to apply for holiday pay. Statutory leave is rarely recognised by agencies and where it is, it has to be accrued rather than being seen as an entitlement. This is an area where the party should be working closely with the Trade Unions to develop robust policy, regulation and enforcement. 7. While welcoming the commitment to restore the link between pensions and earnings, we are concerned that this is to be delayed until the next parliament. We would strongly urge Government to take this action now. 8. We also welcome the commitment to recognise, through pensions entitlement, the contribution made by carers and feel that this too is a policy which should have been introduced some time ago. The MP for our neighbouring constituency (Northampton North) was indeed arguing for this in 1997 and earlier. This too could be a policy which could be prudently introduced by the current government. 9. We also recognise the need to move the retirement age from 65 to 68, but note that it will be the poor who work longer, not those whose practice it is already to retire at 60 or earlier. To this end we would encourage Government to re-examine the way in which National Insurance falls disproportionately on the poor. Pensions are a universal benefit and are paid for longer to those who retire early and hence live longer – i.e. those richer members of society.

We welcome the opportunity to debate these policies as a constituency group and hope that our observations assist in the development of party policy.