From: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.comSubject: News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #421

Date: 8 December 2014 15:22To: news@greghands.com

In this edition: Greg Hands M.P.s Diary Website of the Week:Charlie Dewhirst Video news:Hands on the SundayPolitics London Labour still pledgingMansion Tax - despite theConservatives' overhaul ofStamp Duty Photo news:Campaigning against theHomes Tax K&C Council proclaims theend of mega-basements inKensington & Chelsea Photo news:Lady Margaret SchoolChristmas Fayre Key Points for Chelsea &Fulham from GeorgeOsborne's AutumnStatement Photo news:Polish Community CarolService Have Your Say on newStorm Relief Tunnel Anti-Trafficking Pilot inKensington & Chelseacomes to an end Week in Westminster andConstituency Look Ahead -5th December How to contact Greg Hands MP!

Issue 421 - Monday 8th December 2014

Since the last edition, Greg:

Was interviewed on the BBC Sunday Politics Show, givingthe Conservative view of the positive impact of the Chancellorof the Exchequers Autumn Statement in London.Attended and addressed the Christmas party of theHarbledown Area Residents Association in Fulham. Greghas been a guest of the Association most years since 1998.The Association is probably the best residents association inSW6.Was a guest speaker at the Polish Knights of Maltacommunity Christmas concert, held at St Clement DanesChurch, the Strand. Greg spoke of the importance of the Polishcontribution in the UK in the twentieth century and today.Attended the Daisy Trust childrens Christmas concert at StDionis Church, Parsons Green.Attended the Buckingham Palace reception for the diplomaticcorps. Apart from being an MP, Greg is also the Treasurer ofHer Majestys Household.Met local and national representatives of the Fair Home Taxcampaign in the House of Commons, which is campaigningagainst Labours Homes Tax (or Mansion Tax). For more, seepicture below.Carried out his duties in a busy week as the Conservative Partyand Governments Deputy Chief Whip.Held a regular, weekly, advice surgery for local Chelsea andFulham residents, at Fulham Library, on Fulham Road, close toParsons Green tube. Gregs surgeries are generally weekly, onMonday mornings, at either Fulham Library, or Peter Jones,Sloane Square, Chelsea. To make an appointment, emailmail@greghands.com or telephone 020 7219 5448.

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Website of the Week:www.charliedewhirst.com The website of Charlie Dewhirst, the Conservative candidate tobe the next Member of Parliament for Hammersmith. Sign up tohelp Charlie, in what will be a key battle in next Mays GeneralElection.

Video news:Hands on the Sunday Politics London

Click on the image above to watch Greg Hands MP's appearanceon the Sunday Politics London yesterday.

!Labour still pledging Mansion Tax despite the Conservatives overhaul ofStamp Duty Despite the reforms to Stamp Duty announced in this weeks AutumnStatement, Labour still intend to press ahead with the so calledMansion Tax (or Homes Tax) which will hit hundreds of thousands offamily homes nationally. This week, stamp duty will be cut for 98% of people who pay it - onlythe highest value residential properties will pay more. This meanspeople buying a home for less than 937,500 will pay less stamp duty. Under the old rules, people would have paid Stamp Duty Land Tax(SDLT) at a single rate on the entire property price. Now, they will onlypay the rate of tax on the part of the property price within each taxband like income tax. The measures are major reforms to the tax system and will also helpfirst time buyers through lower up-front costs when buying their firsthome. Whilst the changes will mean more expensive properties will attractmore SDLT, it removes the current cliff edges near the bandboundaries, and makes the tax more progressive. This meansnationally stamp duty will be cut for 98% of people who pay it, and ofpeople who pay stamp duty in London, 91% will pay less. Theaverage London home costing 510,000 attracted 20,400 in stampduty under the old system and will now attract 15,500 a saving of4,900. Even in Chelsea and Fulham, with some of the highestproperty values in the country, stamp duty will be reduced for abouthalf of properties, according to estimates from the Treasury. Commenting on the announcement Greg Hands MP said: Stamp dutyhas been described as one of the worst-designed taxes of all time. Ithas been charged at a single slab rate on the whole purchase price ofa home, meaning big jumps in tax when house values tip into a newband. Thats why were abolishing the residential slab systemaltogether. In future each stamp duty rate will only apply to the part ofthe property price that falls within that band like income tax. In contrast, Labour want to introduce a new annual tax on the familyhome, on top of the changes to SDLT. Responding to the AutumnStatement, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said Labour will support thisstamp duty measure, but are still calling for a Mansion Tax inaddition. Ed Ballss Homes Tax would mean an annual levy on properties worthover 2 million, which will be at least 3,000 and could be up to30,000 or even higher. The tax will have a banded structure, with atleast three bands and the lowest band charged at 3,000 per year however no details were provided for the higher bands. In parts ofLondon such as Chelsea and Fulham 2millon would not just covermansions, but small family homes and even some flats. Greg Hands added We are reducing stamp taxes for 98 per cent ofpeople who pay them and are increasing taxes on the most expensive2 per cent of homes. But, unlike Labour, we will only ask people to paythat tax when they buy that house and have the money. "The changes at the top end could have a big impact on the propertymarket in Chelsea & Fulham, and the impact will need to be watchedclosely. Meanwhile, Labour want to hit home owners with a new tax everyyear. Many of the properties that would be hit by this tax are ordinaryfamily homes and flats. Many were bought years ago for modestprices, and due to house price inflation would now fall into thisbracket. As prices continue to rise, more and more homes would behit. Elderly people would find it impossible to pay amounts of up to30,000 per annum to live in their family home which in many casesthey have been in for 30 years or more. I shall continue to fight Labours unfair and damaging Homes Taxproposal, which unfortunately it seems Labour are determined tointroduce if they are given a chance after the next election. LaboursHomes Tax will damage the economic recovery in London.

Photo news:Campaigning against the Homes Tax

Greg Hands MP meeting national and local campaigners from theFair Homes Tax campaign in the House of Commons this week,

Howard Cox and Gavin Prentice, to discuss the ongoingcampaign against the Homes Tax (or "Mansion Tax").

K&C Council proclaims the end of mega-basements in Kensington & Chelsea The Council has won its historic battle to limit the scale of basementdevelopment in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In its report just published, the Governments Planning Inspectordeclares the Councils proposals for tougher policies to be sound. Basements will still be permitted but strict guidelines will now set limitson their scale. Highlights include a reduction in the maximum extentbasements can extend under the garden, from 85 per cent to 50 percent, with that 50 per cent being a single area of space; a restriction toa single storey in most cases (with exceptions for large sites); anoutright ban on basement developments under listed buildings and arequirement for Construction Traffic Management Plans to besubmitted alongside planning applications to help protect residentsfrom the disturbance caused by these developments . Commenting on the Planning Inspectors announcement, CabinetMember for Planning Policy, Cllr Tim Coleridge, said: Basementshave been the single greatest planning concern our residents haveexpressed to us in living memory. Many have experienced years ofmisery from noise, vibration, dust and construction traffic. Two years ago we started drafting a policy to try and strike the rightbalance between addressing our residents concerns and the genuineneed for people to expand their homes. It hasnt been easy and basement developers have aggressivelyopposed us every step of the way. We are delighted that the Inspectoragrees that we have got it right while at the same time praising us forour extensive public consultation. This ruling is a victory not only for the Council but also our residentswho have been overwhelmingly supportive of what we have beentrying to do. The new guidelines will formally be adopted on 21 January at the nextFull Council meeting.

Photo news:Lady Margaret School Christmas Fayre

Greg Hands MP at the Lady Margaret School Christmas Fayrelast week.

Key Points for Chelsea & Fulham fromGeorge Osbornes Autumn Statement Greg Hands MP has welcomed the Autumn Statement, echoing theChancellors argument that it is only by working through theConservatives long-term economic plan that we can achieveprosperity and security for families in Chelsea and Fulham. The new forecasts for the British economy in the Autumn Statementshow the Governments long-term economic plan is working. Theforecast shows the deficit will be halved this year, and the Britisheconomy is expected to grow by 3 per cent this year. Meanwhile,employment is up and unemployment is down, with over half a millionnew jobs forecast this year. The Chancellor set out the next steps in his long-term economic planin the Statement. The Chancellor also set out a number of othermeasures to help individuals and families. These include: Overhauling stamp duty so that 98% of home buyers across thecountry, and 91% in London, pay less tax when they buy their home. Continuing to back businesses to create jobs in all parts of thecountry - with action on business rates, and more help for the highstreet. Abolishing the jobs tax on apprenticeships for people under 25 tohelp more young people get the skills they need. Raising the personal allowance, and higher rate taxpayers will alsobenefit a down-payment on the Conservatives promises to raise thepersonal allowance to 12,500 and the higher rate threshold to50,000 in the next parliament. In London, this will lift 49,000 of thelowest-paid people out of income tax altogether in 2015-16. 3.28million people will see an average real terms wage boost of 95. Supporting savers by letting husbands and wives inherit theirpartners ISA and keep its tax free status. Supporting higher education by making 10,000 student loansavailable for young people doing post-graduate masters degrees. Thiscould benefit the 40 universities based in London. Cutting tax for families by abolishing Air Passenger Duty forchildren. This will save a two child family travelling from Heathrow orGatwick Airports 26 on the cost of economy short-haul flights and142 on the cost of economy long-haul flights. Greg Hands welcomed these measures as good news forhardworking taxpayers in Chelsea and Fulham, and the rest of thecountry, saying: I welcome the news in the Chancellors AutumnStatement that our deficit will be halved and economy expected togrow by 3 per cent this year. I was also pleased to hear thatunemployment is predicted to fall, from the 8 per cent we inherited, to5.4 per cent next year. This is excellent news for hardworking families in Chelsea andFulham. The changes to income tax will mean In London lifting 49,000of the lowest-paid people out of income tax altogether in 2015-16.3.28 million people will see an average real terms wage boost of 95.Additionally the 40 universities based in London will benefit from thenew post-graduate loans system. This Autumn Statement confirms the Governments long-termeconomic plan is working. This matters to families here in Chelseaand Fulham because its only with a strong and healthy economy thatfamilies here can have economic security for the future. We mustcarry on working through our plan and stay on course to prosperity.

Photo news:Polish Community Carol Service

The scene at the Polish Community Carol Service for the PolishKnights of Malta this week, where Greg was a guest speaker, with

General Lord Guthrie and the Polish Ambassador.

Have Your Say on new Storm Relief Tunnel Residents are encouraged to take part in a consultation launched byThames Water about its proposals for a major new sewer to helpreduce the risk of flooding in Hammersmith & Fulham. The Counters Creek Storm Relief Scheme would run the length of theborough, close to the border with Kensington & Chelsea. It involvesdigging a new four-metre-wide tunnel, 40 metres below the ground, tostore rain water during storms and protect basements from flooding. The 5km storm relief sewer would be connected to the existing sewernetwork and would require construction sites at five locations,including three in Hammersmith & Fulham. The main site would be the car park of the Kensington Olympiaexhibition centre, where Thames Water would dig two 15-metre-widedrive shafts. These would allow for the tunnel to be dug in twodirections, north and south, at the same time. Construction workwould last around three and a half years, from late 2016 to early 2020. The second site would be at the Five Star Car Wash at the top ofShepherds Bush Road, close to Shepherds Bush Green, whereThames Water intends to create a connection to the Hammersmithstorm relief sewer and a local sewer in Goldhawk Road. Work wouldlast around 18 months, from winter 2017 to summer 2019. The third site would be a small grassed area at the corner of MundStreet and North End Road in Fulham, where local storm flows wouldbe diverted into the new sewer. Work would last for 21 months, fromwinter 2017 to summer 2019. The consultation is now open and runs until January 25, 2015. Visitwww.thameswater.co.uk/counterscreek to find out more and haveyour say. Thames Water is also running a series of consultation sessions atthese locations: Urban Partnership Group87 Masbro Road, W14 0LRThursday December 11, 4pm to 8pmSaturday December 13, 10am to 1pm Bhavan Centre4a Castletown Road, W14 9HEThursday January 8, 4pm to 8pmSaturday January 10, 10am to 1pm St Cuthberts Day CentreThe Pillbeach Hall, Earls Court SW5 9EBThursday January 15, 4pm to 8pm

Anti-Trafficking Pilot in Kensington &Chelsea comes to an end A two-year collaboration between the Royal Borough of Kensingtonand Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police to tackle human trafficking iscoming to an end next month (December). Funded by the European Commission, the European CommunitiesAgainst Trafficking (ECAT) Project began in December 2012 and hasraised awareness of the signs of human trafficking among thousandsof professionals and what to do when it is identified. Its aim of working in partnership with a variety of organisations to helpstamp out human trafficking both here in the Capital and abroad hasresulted in groups of vulnerable people being equipped with theknowledge and skills to resist trafficking and also provided directsupport to victims to prevent them being trafficked again. The Council-led project included the Metropolitan Polices specialistAnti-Trafficking and Kidnap Unit, the City of Westminster, Rahab, andSTOP THE TRAFFIK in the UK and agencies in Perugia (Italy) andKaunas (Lithuania). One particularly important piece of work has been the collaborationbetween the Metropolitan Police and the Kensington-based charityRahab, which identified over 300 potential victims of trafficking andoffered them support. It resulted in more than 60 criminalinvestigations, with 27 arrests, the recovery of over 100,000 andtraffickers receiving sentences totalling over 35 years. On Monday 8 December the ECAT Project Tool-kit will be launched atthe final ECAT Conference at City Hall, London SE1. It will showcasethe findings from the two year project. Kevin Hyland, the UKs firstever Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner will be speaking, hewas appointed by the Home Secretary on 13 November 2014. Commenting on the work, the Royal Borough of Kensington andChelseas Cabinet Member for Community Safety, IT and CorporateServices, Councillor Joanna Gardner, said: The scourge of humantrafficking is something we must do all we can to stop, as it is going onin our community and takes many forms from slavery to prostitution.The collaborative work across the ECAT project that has been carriedout across organisations and countries has had some significantsuccesses. I hope that the launch of the toolkit to help tackle humantrafficking and the findings over the two years of this project will helpothers, throughout Europe, to build on its great work and combathuman trafficking. For more information on the ECAT Project go towww.rbkc.gov.uk/againsthumantrafficking.

Week in Westminster and ConstituencyLook Ahead 5th December 1 5 December 2014: This week in Westminster NHS SpendingThe NHS gives us all the peace of mind, guaranteeing world-classhealthcare, free at the point of use. Over this Parliament, theGovernment has increased the NHS budget by 12.7 billion and Iwelcome the 2 billion a year extra funding for frontline NHS servicesthe Chancellor announced this week. The Government will also use1.1 billion in Forex fines to invest in local GP and communityservices that will give patients access to advanced care, such aschemotherapy and dialysis, in their local communities. Moreinformation here. Road InvestmentI know that until recently, our roads they have suffered from under-investment. This makes the Governments announcement this week ofthe biggest investment in roads in a generation particularly welcome,through a 15 billion Road Investment Strategy that will increase thecapacity and condition of roads across England. This funding willincrease the capacity and condition of roads across England, to keepthe economy growing and make a real difference in helping people geton and get around. More information here. Small Business SaturdayI look forward to Small Business Saturday this weekend. Im proud theConservatives are the party of small businesses and this is a greatday to recognise and celebrate the many wonderful small businessesand their vital contribution to our local economy. Not only are they thelifeblood of our economy but small businesses are responsible fornearly half the job creation in the UK. Chelsea and Fulham is an areawhere small businesses thrive, particularly with the large range ofindependent shops on the Kings Road and Fulham Road. On SmallBusiness Saturday last year over 460 million was spent in smallbusinesses and I hope this year will be as, if not more successful. Upcoming Events in the Fulham part of the Constituency (for afull list of local events, check out local website Those Who NoesFulham - www.thosewhonosefulham.com) CHELSEA FC HOME GAME - Chelsea v Sporting LisbonWednesday, December 10, 201419:45 - 21:45Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS Kicks off at 19.45 Please visit Chelsea FC website for more information about the matchand tickets. Visit website >> CHELSEA FC HOME GAME - Chelsea v Hull CitySaturday, December 13, 201415:00 - 17:00Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS Kick off 3pm Please visit Chelsea FC website for further information about thematch and tickets. Visit website >> CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERTSunday, December 14, 201418:30 - 20:00Fulham Palace, Bishop's Ave, London, SW6 6EA Come along for this special evening of festive celebration. Enjoytraditional carols in our Victorian Chapel featuring the FulhamCamerata, conducted by Hannah Parry-Ridout. Light seasonalrefreshments will be served afterward in front of the roaring fire in ourGreat Hall. 15 per person. Booking essential, click here to book.

!5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448By email: mail@greghands.comBy post: Greg Hands M.P.

House of CommonsLondon SW1A 0AA

In person: Click here for details of howto book an appointment atGreg Hands M.P.s weeklysurgery

www.greghands.com

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