Pensions: this year has seen a £60 payment to every pensioner in the constituency in January 2009, the equivalent of bringing forward the rise in basic state pension from April 2009. A rise of £4.55 a week in the basic state pension, took effect in April 2009. The minimum income for single pensioners will be £130, the biggest rise since 2003. This is expected to benefit approximately 5000 pensioners in Aberdeen North. The Pension Service provides a local service on 0845 606 0265

The Pension Credit is an entitlement designed to ensure that everyone aged 60 or over receives an income of at least £124.05 pw if you are single or £189.00 pw for couples. In April 2009 the Pension Credit increased by £5.95 a week. To check whether you are eligible and for more information on how to apply please call the Pension Credit Helpline on 0800 991 234

Winter Fuel Payments: between 2006-2007 16,220 people aged 60 and over received Winter Fuel Payments in Aberdeen North alone. Winter Fuel Payments of £200 for over 60's and £400 for over 80's are available. For more information on how to apply, please contact the Winter Fuel team on 08459 15 15 15

Grampian Fire and Rescue: can provide a free home fire safety check. This safety check is carried out by local fire officers and takes around 20 minutes. They will look at areas of fire risk at the home and can fit smoke alarms where necessary, as well as give advice on their maintenance. For more information please call Fire & Rescue 01224 696666

Council Tax Benefit: If you are aged 60 or over and getting the 'guaranteed credit' part of Pension Credit you may be entitled to Council Tax Benefit. For more information please contact the Aberdeen Council Tax Dept on 08456 080921

General Support Contacts:

Age Concern: 0845 833 0200
Bus Passes: Accord Office 0845 345 2789
TV Licence Helpline: 0844 800 6790

A full leaflet is available from my office Tel 01224 252715
 

In June 2002 I was contacted by three employees of the retailer Argos who had been threatened with dismissal for refusing to work on Sundays. I immediately contacted the Chief Executive of Argos and representatives from the USDAW union.

A campaign by MPs, MSPs, Unions, other organisations and individuals urged the Government to harmonise the law to allow workers in Scotland protection from discrimination if they wished to opt out of working on Sundays. This protection was already available to workers in England and Wales who have the right to choose whether to work on Sundays.

The issue was taken up by the Secretary of State for Scotland and as a result Argos changed its position. On 7 February 2003, David Cairns, MP for Greenock and Inverclyde, secured a House of Commons Debate on the Sunday Trading (Scotland) Bill, to which I contributed.

One of the most important fishing grounds for trawlers from Aberdeen was the distant waters of Iceland where Aberdeen boats caught cod. In 1974, the Icelandic Government banned foreign fishing in their waters and this led to the Cod Wars.

In June 1976 agreement was reached with Iceland and the UK Government and British vessels, including Aberdeen boats, were phased out from the 200-mile limit imposed around Iceland. Several thousand fishermen from ports around the UK, but mainly from Aberdeen, Hull, Grimsby and Fleetwood, were employed in the Icelandic fishing. Many were made redundant. Due to the unemployment arrangements, at that time prevalent in the industry, the men were not eligible for redundancy in the way in which a normal employee would be.

In Aberdeen a 'pool' system was operated. The men were members of the pool and fished on whatever vessels there were available to take up their services. As normal redundancy was not available, the British Association of Fishermen lobbied successive Governments to fight what it saw as a real injustice. Through no fault of their own, thousands of British fishermen had lost their jobs and their income and there was no means to provide them with compensation.

When the Labour Government came into power in 1997, I lobbied the Government, with MPs from other fishing ports around the country, to introduce a compensation scheme. I felt it was important to right the wrong that had been done. In July 2000, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Stephen Byers, announced the establishment of a new scheme of Government compensation for former Icelandic Distant Water Trawlermen who lost their jobs when the industry collapsed in the mid-1970's.

There are strict eligibility criteria, but to date, 16,000 applications have been submitted for compensation, including many from Aberdeen. The schemes provide for a payment of £1,000 for each year at sea, with a maximum of £20,000 to any individual. The scheme is administered by the Department of Trade and Industry's Redundancy Payments Office at Watford.

My staff and I have continued to assist former fishermen and their widows for compensation. A number of substantial payments have already been made.