This week the Trades Union Congress (TUC) released its report on women’s position in the recession and the disproportionate affect public service cuts would have on women. The report highlights how heavy cuts to the public sector would result in an increase in female unemployment and that heavy cuts to public sector pensions would also affect women the worst.

According to the Annual Business Inquiry, almost 40 per cent of women’s jobs are in the public sector, compared to just 15 per cent of men’s. Early cuts made to public sector would lead to an uneven increase in female unemployment as compared to male.

The TUC report notes that in the 5 regions where the male unemployment rate has been highest public sector jobs account for more than 40 per cent of women’s employment. This means that families already in a vulnerable position could be affected most by early deep spending cuts. As well as the risk of increased female unemployment, cuts made to public sector pensions could exacerbate the gender gap in pensions.

It’s for these families, who find themselves exposed to the volatility of the market that the Labour Party is putting securing economic recovery high on the agenda in their manifesto – and you can have your say over what should be included here.

The TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber commented: “Slashing public spending may satisfy fiscal hawks and city traders but it would cause misery to millions of people who have already suffered from the recession.

“It’s hardly fair that these are now all under threat thanks to the mistakes of super-rich bankers, who are already back collecting their bonuses.

“When politicians talk about the need for deep spending cuts they rarely say how this would affect ordinary working people. But as our report makes clear – women would have to pay for these cuts with their jobs and pensions.

UNISON has launched a Million Voices for Public Services campaign – sign up and make your voice heard.

The Labour Party has launched the Global Poverty Promise campaign, pushing for ambitious spending targets for international aid, enshrined in law.

The video above, which includes messages from Annie Lennox, Mariella Frostrup and Davina McCall, highlights the significance of this aim.

Under Labour, Britain has tripled its international aid budget, and has committed to increase spending to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2013. And Labour will go further by putting into law Britain’s commitment to international aid, ensuring that UN aid targets are met and that we never turn our back on the world’s poor.

International aid has made a real difference in developing countries: more than four million people now receive treatment for HIV and AIDS, and by 2015, 500 million children will have been vaccinated against mortal diseases in immunization programmes in 70 of the world’s poorest countries.

Despite billions being spent to provide medicines and build schools in developing countries, the Conservatives have failed match Labour’s pledge.

Speaking about the campaign, Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, said:

“The Labour Government will not turn our back on the world’s poor who have been hit hard by the economic downturn. We have kept the promises we made at Gleneagles and we will go even further by enshrining in law our commitment to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on aid from 2013.

“Labour’s commitment to international development is clear, but the Tories’ is not. David Cameron refuses to match Labour’s commitment to bring in the new aid law and his Tory candidates do not prioritise protecting the international development budget from cuts.”

Follow these links to find out more and make the Global Poverty Promise.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper has announced reforms enabling millions of people to save in a pension for the first time, describing them as the “biggest change to support for working people since the introduction of the minimum wage”.

Under the plans around nine million workers will be able to save in a pension with guaranteed contributions from their employer and the government from 2012, many for the first time. In particular, previously disadvantaged groups including women and carers are set to benefit; this year the number of women qualifying for a basic state pension will rise from 50% to 75% of the female population.

The Labour plans will benefit Streatham’s over 60s population of almost 13,000, providing support in retirement for those who were unable to work the previous 44 years for men and 39 years for women.

Under the plans both men and women will only need to work for 30 years, with allowances made for those who have made up gaps in their employment record. In addition grandparents who care for their
grandchildren will now earn credit and a more generous state pension.

Streatham’s businesses will be offered help to adjust to the changes. Start-up businesses created from 2012 will be given until 2016 to start enrolling staff in the scheme, and other local businesses will see their contributions phased in over the next three years. These changes will help Streatham businesses through the recovery whilst ensuring a decent retirement income for the area’s residents and employees.

Speaking about the reforms, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham Chuka Umunna said:

“These reforms are vital in giving thousands of people locally the chance to save in a pension. Along with our changes to the state pension later this year, this will ensure that pensions are fair and sustainable in the longer term.”

Many older people and younger people with disabilities want to maintain their ability to live at home as long as possible, so Labour is proposing to extend free personal care at home to 280,000 people with the highest needs.

The Personal Care at Home Bill will invest £670 million to enable them to stay in their homes, adjusting living conditions with new technology and adaptations whilst also protecting the free care already provided.

Under the proposals 130,000 people will be able to gain new skills that help them to maintain their independence. Additionally, 111,000 people who in the past have had to fund their own home care will receive it for free.

In the long run this will save both social care services and the NHS money, and will form the first step towards a new National Care Service.

Chuka Umunna said : “Labour’s Personal Care at Home Bill will make personal care simple, fair and accessible, giving hundreds of thousands of people new dignity and independence.”

“Many elderly people and younger disabled people need help with everyday tasks such as getting in and out of bed, washing and dressing. Too many still have to fund the support they need out of
their own pocket – or do without.”

“And what’s more, many have to give up living at home in order to receive that support. This bill will help put an end to this.”

The Conservatives, who oppose a National Care Service, instead want a private insurance scheme which will require people to pay £8,000 for residential care, without support to stay in their own home. Not only does this underestimate the cost of such care, but it would also exclude those unable to pay and create a perverse incentive for people to leave their homes even where this is unnecessary or inappropriate.

The Conservative policy, which also does nothing for younger disabled people, has been criticised by social care experts.

Chuka continued: “In 1945 it was Labour that created a National Health Service, free at the point of use, improving life in the UK beyond measure. And now we are setting out to create a new National Care Service in the same spirit of dignity and wellbeing for all.”

The Labour Government has launched the new Boiler Scrappage Scheme – a national initiative to help families save money on fuel bills and cut their carbon emissions.

Around 125,000 households in England will be entitled to £400 towards the price of a new A-rated boiler or renewable heating system to replace their older, less environmentally-friendly boilers.

Hundreds of Streatham families with outdated boiler systems are expected to be eligible for the welcome boost, especially in the freezing weather.

The move is also designed to help sustain work in the heating industry, a major British employer.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Scheme “will slash household energy bills and carbon emissions while providing an important boost for the British heating industry.

“The government’s new scrappage scheme will help to secure 250,000 jobs across the tens of thousands of small and medium businesses involved in boiler manufacture, sales and installation that form a vital component of Britain’s low carbon economy.”

Labour’s Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “The Boiler Scrappage Scheme will save around £200 off heating bills per year for families that are replacing their old boilers, and in total will save the same amount of carbon equivalent to taking around 45,000 cars off the road.

“The scheme will add to the existing package of government measures to help householders be smarter about the energy they use, leading to permanently reduced fuel bills and cutting emissions.”

The Boiler Scrappage Scheme is based on the same principles as the hugely successful Car Scrappage Scheme – a burst of decisive government investment designed to help both people and businesses while reducing the UK’s carbon footprint.

The Car Scrappage Scheme, introduced in May last year and extended in September, gives drivers £2,000 towards a new car if they trade in an old one.

As of December 2009, 282,898 new cars had been ordered under the Scheme, 19,150 of which were in London.

New plans have been announced by the government to ensure that consumers get a fair deal from credit card companies and stop unfair practices and exploitation.

Chuka is backing the changes, having campaigned on the issue after hearing complaints from local people about credit card rip offs.

The rules would mean that companies will have to pay off customers’ most expensive debts first.

This is to prevent the practice of ‘negative payment hierarchy’ whereby consumers can get stuck in debt by only paying off the portion borrowed at the cheapest rate. This change could save thousands of pounds for people paying off credit card debts.

Companies are also set to be banned from increasing credit limits without consent, sending unsolicited cheques or increasing interest rates on existing debts.

In future, they will be required to give consumers a full and proper explanation of how a card works before making an agreement.

The government is also intervening to help customers who are seeking refunds for excessive bank fees and charges.

There are more than one million reclaim requests for excessive charges which have been on hold since 2007, with a test case brought by the Office of Fair Trading currently going through the courts.

The Prime Minister has called on banks to resolve the outstanding claims without further delay.

Earlier this month Chuka attended the premiere screening of the film Minority Report, which focuses on challenging stereotypes associated with young black men.

The event was held in London’s City Hall, and after the screening a panel including Chuka discussed the film. Chuka features in the film, alongside actor David Harewood, broadcaster Henry Bonsu and musicians the Mitchell Brothers.

Minority Report has been produced by the Generation Next Foundation to coincide with Black History Month. It looks at the representation of black men in the media and ways of addressing negative stereotypes.

The foundation, of which Chuka is a trustee, empowers young people by providing opportunities to develop skills in fashion, journalism and film production. It was set up by Streatham brothers Hamdi and Ludvig Bonin to increase opportunities for personal development outside school and college.

To watch the film, follow this link.

A new national campaign has been launched to highlight the help and advice available to homeowners potentially facing repossession.

The government is investing £130m in free face-to-face debt advice to help people stay in their homes, with a dedicated website and helpline in operation. Over 300,000 have already benefitted from this extra support.

Advice is also available in the courts themselves, with desks offering free, on-the-day legal advice and representation for those threatened with repossession. Even on the day of a hearing, around four in five repossessions can still be stopped if the households attend court and access free advice.

The government has also launched three financial support schemes, providing over 200,000 families help with their mortgage payments:

The Homeowners Mortgage Support (HMS) scheme is aimed to help those who have a temporary, unexpected drop in income; The Support for Mortgage Interest scheme helps those who have lost their jobs or receiving means tested benefits meet mortgage interest payments; the Mortgage Rescue Scheme is a £285m package of measures designed to prevent the most vulnerable families losing their homes.

Repossessions fell by 10% in the second quarter of this year, and the number of claims leading to a reposession order fell by 35% here in London.

The government is taking decisive action to ensure that homeowners don’t experience the trauma of repossession. During these difficult times, with finances under pressure, it is crucial that people are aware of all the support available – in most cases where people seek help they are able to stay in their homes.

Concerned homeowners can to go to www.direct.gov.uk/mortgagehelp, or contact the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 for impartial advice.

UCATT is the UK’s only trade union specialising in construction and its national headquarters are based in Clapham, in the Streatham constituency. UCATT is campaigning on behalf of workers who have suffered from exposure to asbestos. Two years ago, the House of Lords ruled that pleural plaques – scarring of the lungs as a result of prolonged asbestos exposure – does not constitute a compensatable medical condition.

There are many cases of former construction workers who suffer from pleural plaques (watch the video above). As a result of the House of Lords’ decision those workers are unable to make a claim for compensation, only being able to do so if complications that result from pleural plaques such as mesothelioma develop, by which time treatment may come too late. Even in such cases, winning compensation is made more difficult by the fact that many of the construction companies involved have gone into liquidation, and finding the relevant insurer takes considerable time.

UCATT is campaigning to stop this injustice, and has launched a postcard calling on the Secretary of State for Justice to allow sufferers to claim compenstion. Please support the campaign by downloading and sending a campaign postcard (postage free) or signing the online petition.

Last weekend, Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for Women and Equalities Harriet Harman joined Chuka campaigning in Streatham.

In this video she discusses the government’s Equality Bill, currently going through Parliament, which will reform existing laws to promote equality and fight discrimination.

The Equality Bill includes measures to increase transparency in the workplace, ensuring that gender wage inequalities are no longer hidden, whilst also requiring public bodies to consider the needs of all the communities they serve when drawing up policies.