We need to protect our environment and have secure energy supplies. One important part of the mix is renewable energy including from the sun. I am therefore encouraging all local schools to take advantage of British Gas' £15 million solar panel give-away.
All schools in the UK can put themselves forward and could win solar panels, worth between £20,000 and £40,000 each. Schools need to demonstrate that they are amongst the most sustainable in the country before winning the panels. These could cut as much as 20% off a school's annual electricity bill.
Up to 750 schools will receive free solar panels, with around half of the prizes going to schools in low income areas. I certainly hope that local schools win.
In addition to the solar panels, schools will also receive a free energy display meter. This could reduce energy consumption by a further 10-15%.
Schools can join the competition by filling in the application form on http://www.generationgreen.co.uk/solarpanels/
Judges will be looking at the school's commitment to sustainability, its ability to engage and benefit the wider community and the overall originality of their entry. Schools can also provide any supporting material that might help demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. This could range from case studies, photos, videos, presentations, press cuttings or even petitions signed by the local community.
Interested schools should apply by 22nd October. Following this, a short list of schools will be decided and winners will be announced in November.
Another urgent issue has been drawn to my attention by Thompsons, the solicitors with whom myself and other Labour MPs worked hard to get justice for those with pleural plaques.
We succeeded, with the Chronicle, in putting pressure on the government on this issue and they agreed to make one-off payments of £5,000 to those with pleural plaques if they had begun a legal claim before October 2007. This is when the Law Lords sadly abolished compensation rights.
Unfortunately, some greedy solicitors are trying to exploit pleural plaques victims by trying to con people into parting with hundreds of pounds in return for filling in the forms. There is no need to use such claims-farmers because the Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group at Wallsend can sort free legal help for pleural plaques sufferers.
The Support and Campaign Group is on 0191 200 7198 or at asbestos@wallsendpc.org
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
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