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Answered by Steve McCabe

Hi Kerry, I'm quite happy to talk about my expenses and have already given them all to the Evening Mail's John Walker. In 2004/5 I claimed too much in mortgage interest relief (2300 pounds)  I paid the... Show more »Hi Kerry,
I'm quite happy to talk about my expenses and have already given them all to the Evening Mail's John Walker. In 2004/5 I claimed too much in mortgage interest relief (2300 pounds)  I paid the money back a few months later, as soon as the fees office discovered it. This wasn't too hard for them as I submitted my mortgage interest certificate along with the claim. Not the action one would normally associate with an attempt to commit fraud but this hasn't stopped a local Conservative councillor trying to brand me as some kind of crook. Incidentally in the same year, I was the lowest claiming MP in the entire country.
Obviously, many of us have not paid enough attention to our expenses claims. Had I realised that they would be the subject of such scrutiny I'd have taken a week off work to ensure that I had everything perfect. The reality is that I often found myself rushing to fill them in after midnight on the day before the deadline.
There are a number of problems with parliamentary expenses and allowances. Firstly I believe there should be an allowance for staying away from home. My home is in Birmingham, my partner and I share the costs at our home like most other couples and i don't claim a penny expenses for my Birmingham home. I'm happy to be reimbursed in any way for the costs of having to stay away from home. I don't agree with David Cameron's solution that it should be soley an accommodation budget as I think this would turn the clock back to an era when only rich people could become MP's. It can be no accident that Mr. Cameron has claimed the maximum allowance - virtually double what I have claimed in most years but he has claimed it as mortgage interest on a very big mortgage.
I also think that issues like staff wages, office accommodation, heating and light should be paid directly by the House of Commons. Instead, I am expected to manage this like a small business while the newspapers describe it as an allowance as if its money that goes into my pocket.
I want a simple set of rules. A decent salary determined by an external body which is entirely free of parliamentary influence. I want the minimum expenses necessary to do my job so that I am not out of pocket as an MP and i want the fees office to check all fees before any payments are made and to query anything that doesn't seem to make sense  rather than pay expenses which frankly look ludicrous and leave us all gasping at stories about duck ponds, gardening and tennis courts.
You may be interested to know that I have not taken any pay rise this year either as an MP or as a Government whip.
Finally, I have already voted for a set of interim measures to restrict the amount of mortgage interest that can be claimed and to restrict the number of items which can be claimed as expenses. I've also voted for a register so that all MP's have to disclose any second jobs they may have and how much they earn from that activity. I will be more than happy to accept whatever recommendations are made by the independent Kelly Committee on salaries and allowances for parliament. Hope this answers your question,
Best Wishes,
Steve McCabe Show less »

Answered by Karen Hamilton

I thiinkthat membership of the EU is positive as it has allowed vacancies that  have been unfilled for a long time to be filled e.g. bus drivers  It may also mean that there are more people applying... Show more »I thiinkthat membership of the EU is positive as it has allowed
vacancies that  have been unfilled for a long time to be filled e.g. bus
drivers  It may also mean that there are more people applying for jobs but
I think that it balances out.. Show less »

Answered by Keith Barton

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Answered by Deirdre Alden

Many residents who live around the Edgbaston County Cricket Ground are angry about the current plans for redevelopment. I think everyone agrees that we want Test Cricket to remain in Birmingham, and... Show more »Many residents who live around the Edgbaston County Cricket Ground are
angry about the current plans for redevelopment. I think everyone agrees
that we want Test Cricket to remain in Birmingham, and we want the Cricket
Ground to remain in Edgbaston. However the extensive plans to upgrade the
actual ground include a large amount of redevelopment on the current car
park - including shops, hotels, restaurants, a large office building and
250 flats and houses.
People rightly fear that traffic congestion and parking problems in the
area will escalate, and will happen 365 days a year and not just when
matches are taking place.
Twelve houses in Edgbaston will have to be compulsory purchased for the car
park development to go ahead. Whilst a number are owned by the cricket
ground, some are not and there is at least one owner occupier who does not
wish to move.
On top of this, residents also feel that consultation between the club and
its neighbours has been minimal to date and that though it is starting now,
it is too little, too late. This is particularly galling when the club is
requesting a £20 million loan from Birmingham City Council to help pay for
the redevelopment, meaning that  the Club wants a large part of the funding
to be paid for out of the public purse. Show less »

Answered by Deirdre Alden

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Answered by Deirdre Alden

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Answered by Karen Hamilton

I think the closure of LDV is an issue for everyone in Birmingham including politicians. In the past I have marched against the closure of Rover and HP and lobbied for help for both. I have had conversations... Show more »I think the closure of LDV is an issue for everyone in Birmingham
including politicians. In the past I have marched against the closure of
Rover and HP and lobbied for help for both.

I have had conversations with senior councillors to discuss what can  be
done to help to LDV.

On a one to one level I have spoken to individuals and given them advice
and support regarding benefits and other support available.
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Answered by Ken Wood

Over the last 4/5 years the level of inward investment has resulted in Birmingham increasingly being seen as a destination of choice for businesses and hopefully this trend will continue despite the current... Show more »Over the last 4/5 years the level of inward investment has resulted in Birmingham increasingly being seen as a destination of choice for businesses and hopefully this trend will continue despite the current market comditions. Birmingham and the the surrounding Cities/Towns have a wealth of experience and skills available to any Manufacturing organisation that cares to come to the area
I believe Birmingham and indeed the greater West Midlands as a whole is still capable of being a centre of excellence for innovation and design within the manaufacturing sector. It is also vital that we maintain the skill levels within our manufacturing businesses and not let them go as a result of the current market. This is where I believe government could play  a much more active role. A system put in place now similar to that in Germany whereby rather than redundancy they encourage companies to keep their skilled workforce by offering a scheme whereby the company pays for 2 days the government pays for 2 days (during which employees increase their skills through training etc) That way rather than redundancy the employee loses 1 day. As the market recovers - and it will do - companies have the skills available to handle the increase.
As a Longbridge Councillor I am keen to see the start of the redevelopment asap as this will create jobs from the start eg construction. We will then see the benefits of new companies demanding a variety of skills which will hopefully be satisfied using local labour. Longbridge is a 12 - 15 year project so there is real scope to see the creation of the 10000 jobs we hope for. It is such a shame that not only has the process been so long and drawn out thanks to Government processes but that final approval of the redevelopment project came through at such an unfortunate time with regards to the economy.
Again I believe the government could have done much more a lot quicker than they have done with regards to getting the banking system sorted out. Jaguar is a perfect example of a world wide respected company with products that people want to buy not being able to do things due to lack of access to acceptable lines of credit. A perfect example of the government failing again to protect our manufacturing base in the Midlands.
As we start to claw or climb our way out of the financial mess I have every confidence that the businesses in Birmingham will strive to exceed expectations with or without the governments assistance. Show less »

Answered by Keith Barton

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Answered by Keith Barton

No I have not had any fallout from the Councillors Expenses issue. The Post and Mail covered them in August with very little comment. Expenses are strictly controlled and very limited, we can claim ... Show more »No I have not had any fallout from the Councillors Expenses issue. The Post and Mail covered them in August with very little comment.
Expenses are strictly controlled and very limited, we can claim for mileage or taxis when on Council approved duties and subsistance (food and hotel costs) when representing the Council at conferences etc. For instance three members of the Guns & Gangs Review, one from each group,will be in London for a one day conference this month. The Council will pay for the delegates fee and rail travel directly, so no payment is made to the Councillors.

Councillor Keith Barton. Show less »