Many thanks to Justine Woods and Aaron Gransby from Axis for allowing me to visit their offices earlier this month. It was a pleasure to meet them and to learn about the great work the publication undertakes bringing local news, views and features to the people of Hertford and Stortford and beyond.
May has been really busy here in the constituency and in Westminster. First and foremost, the Queen’s Speech took place with the Government unveiling 38 bills for this parliamentary session.
Among the bills that caught the eye was the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill – a major part of the Government’s focus ‘to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families’.
The Bill will set levelling-up missions and report on progress in delivering them. There will also be an overhaul of the planning system with more local control over planning proposed.
Here in Hertford and Stortford, I have been busy undertaking visits and talking to local people and organisations.
I had the pleasure of delivering the second tranche of 200 books to three more primary schools after I won a Publisher’s Association draw to win 600 books.
100 books each went to Hertford St Andrew C of E Primary School in Hertford and St Mary’s Junior School and Hunsdon School in Ware.
The first tranche of 200 fiction titles was given to Avanti Meadows Primary School in Bishop’s Stortford and Fawbert and Barnard Infants’ School in Sawbridgeworth last month.
Cost of Living issues continue to be a concern for many families and I am talking with ministers and parliamentary colleagues to see what can be done in addition to the £22 billion already earmarked to help. I do expect more measures as we grapple with global post-covid supply pressures and fallout from the war in Ukraine.
As part of the drive to help, I am urging older people across Hertford and Stortford to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit as the benefit could help with cost-of-living pressures.
Pension Credit is a top up that is worth an average of £3,300. As well as a cash top up to the state pension, it also acts as a passport to other benefits such as help with housing costs, council tax reduction schemes, heating bills and a free over-75s TV licence.
Nearly 1400 claim it in Hertford and Stortford but it is thought around 25% of people who could claim the extra help do not currently do so – meaning there are potentially hundreds in the constituency missing out.
This is a substantial benefit that could help many older people in the constituency, however, it’s a big concern that there might be hundreds who are missing out because they don't know about it or they wrongly think they are not eligible.
Can older people, their families and carers please double check if this benefit is available to them or their loved ones.
Pension Credit can be claimed online, by telephone or by post. Information is available on Gov.UK website www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.