My office is flooded with good advice. It is perhaps apt that this week's tip concerns burst water pipes. Environment Minister Hilary Benn tells me that water customers, particularly those on meters, should not face unjustified additional charges from leaks from burst pipes.
I was worried that local folk would be charged for water they hadn't actually used. I am very pleased that the Cabinet Minister says that water customers shouldn't have to stump up extra in these cases. Water companies have a duty under the law to adjust people's bills when there is a leak. This is mandatory on the first leak and then on a case by case basis.
Northumbrian Water have a good reputation and I hope they continue in the same manner with such problems.
The National Lottery people have also tipped me off to a useful scheme that recognises the heroism of so many who resisted fascism and upheld our liberties..
It concerns their Heroes Return 2 scheme which provides Lottery funding to help World War II veterans who saw active service, plus their spouse or carer, to take part in commemorative visits (within the UK and overseas) to mark the anniversary of events that led to the end of World War Two.
There are grants of between £150 and £5,500 depending on numbers and the destination. The final deadline is 31January 2011. Individuals and groups with general questions about the scheme can ring the application helpline on 0845 0000 121 or contact me.
Finally, it was a great privilege to join the first female BBC news presenter, Angela Rippon in the Commons recently. We were brought together by Skills for Care to discuss dementia. 700,000 people in the UK have dementia which costs £17billion a year. With an ageing population, this figure will more than double. Angela outlined her own painful personal experience with her mother and we talked about the need for a strong and specialised workforce of carers helping sufferers and their the families. As a former care worker myself I can see that the whole issue of social care is going to become a very big issue.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
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